10. A boon to Local Colleges across the Area?

The case is made for Grammar to Go to be introduced to the sixth form colleges across a local authority's area.

It was nearing the end of my day at High Holme Sixth Form College. Paul, Amanda and I had spent time discussing the ways in which Grammar to Go could make a huge difference at the college: helping the tutors to coach their students to better use of grammar, and helping the students themselves in their essay-writing.

I had also spent time with some of Paul’s students, showing them around the Grammar to Go website, introducing them to some of the functionality. They seemed impressed, and were convinced that this would be a useful tool for them.

My final port of call before heading home was to the Headmaster’s office. Dr. Quinn had cleared half an hour for me in his diary at 5pm. According to Paul, he was interested to hear all about my service – and what his students had thought of it.
“Come in, Jane: please take a seat.” Dr. Quinn ushered me into his office. I sat down in a large armchair opposite him. Dividing us was a large wooden desk, overflowing with folders, trays of papers and a stack of unopened mail.
“Apologies for asking to see you so late in the day… as you can see, I’ve rather a lot on my plate at the minute”, explained Dr. Quinn. “You’ll be aware of OFSTED, no doubt? We are due to be visited next week, and I have a mountain of paperwork to complete before then…”
“Please, I fully understand… I imagine it’s an awful lot to get through.”
Dr. Quinn sighed. “It certainly is… on top of all my day-to-day work, too! Now then… you’ve spent a day talking to the students and to our tutors – about a grammar-checking service, is that correct?”

I explained to Dr. Quinn all about Grammar to Go, and the outcome of my day at the college. At the end of my update, the headmaster leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.
“Jane, it sounds like a wonderful service, but I’m not sure it’s something I could allow. Admittedly, £15 is not a great expense, but I can’t help feel that we’d be spoon-feeding our students. After all, when they get out in the working world, they’re not going to have ready access to this, are they?”
“No – but what they learn from using it here will stay with them after they leave. Think of it as an extension of your educational process…”

Dr. Quinn folded his arms. “That’s a valid point. But consider the case I’m going to have to make to the Local Authority. In their eyes, why should they fund a marginal improvement in the educational offering of college over the one down the road?”
“Then there’s the value to your tutors…”
“… and why should the Authority fund a brief improvement to their working life?”
“… and then there’s the difference it could make to your day, Dr. Quinn. These OFSTED reports you mentioned: they don’t write themselves, I’ll bet. Grammar to Go will cut the time you spend on them – and will make your presentation style and readability all the better. What’s more, it will help to improve your credibility, and that of the college.”

“Once again, Jane, it’s back to that favouritism thing. Why should our Local Authority want to give preferential treatment to High Holme Sixth Form College?”
Dr. Quinn had a point.
“Okay… so what if we were to talk to the Authority about rolling this out across all of the local colleges?”

A smile spread slowly across the headmaster’s face.
“Now that might just be a way in. Let me see if I can find a contact phone number for you...”

Comments