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”One of the exciting aspects of the Weald Centre Plan for the Council Offices location in Cranbrook is the education component. Philip Morris (Principal at Angley) leads the School as an education provider and community facility. Not only is Angley, a Sports College, it is increasingly becoming a vocational specialist centre. Phil Morris efficiently continues to forge and strengthen the networks of partnerships with West Kent College, Hadlow, and other KCC providers for education and training.
But that is not the end of the process. Phil and Denis East (Chairman of the Angley Governors) are passionate about opportunities for educational development in the Cranbrook community and its immediate surrounds.
In all the political and media attention generated over the last 2 years as to the future of the Cranbrook Council Offices, much of the positive aspects of the Weald Centre Plan has been overshadowed by the community controversy and why public opinion has been so sidelined by TWBC. As a consequence, Phil and Denis feel that it is so important for all to be aware that Angley is central to the plan vision, which aims to make provision for education, qualifications, training and real life work experience for all students, regardless of their background. This laudable approach explains why Angley School is at the heart of the Weald Community by drawing its student body, families and friends from the locality and is reaching out to othersto provide training and opportunity for all. This is why this distinctive school affects the whole of the neighbouring population.
TWBC seems to have overlooked that the Weald Centre Plan highlights that Angley values all, and seeks opportunities for everyone to find value in Angley as a hub for the community. This principle is so fundamental because Angley is committed to lifelong learning and opportunity.
A key set of propositions for the Weald Centre Plan is that, given the school’s background and the vision for its place in the community, it should be a key player in bringing community, education and training together into a single project concept. Linking public sector education training and community support within a credible business model is viable and expresses Government ambitions and directives to see social enterprise create local solutions for local people.
The hub of the Weald Centre Plan is borne out of Community Services Provision partnered with Extended Education and training opportunities for students and adults during the day and the evening at all times during the year. Community needs will be met and led at Angley and the Offices using the school’s skilled management and connections, to provide an umbrella structure to the education aspect of the new opportunities afforded for all the Weald Centre. Angley’s links with FE and KCC can team up those employers’ needs with trainees and potential workers using training and skills for life programmes.
More importantly Phil Morris through Angley and the Weald Centre Group headed by Sir Kenneth Warren and Denis East are not bound by political restraints and therefore can deliver programmes independently or in partnership within any local authority regime. The operational cycle in the business plan for the project will be self financing and profits will go back into operations, resourcing programmes and developing activities. All Community members and groups will have a say in the management and the long term evolution of this 21st Century Project.
Our only concern is, if the Weald Centre Group with Angley’s practical vision at its heart isn’t given the chance to meet the needs and ambitions of the local community, how will local issues be met by our current local authority management? This question needs to be addressed by all of our local representatives.“
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