Parents at a Shropshire school left devastated after councillors voted for merger proposals to go ahead have vowed to keep fighting. And they are waiting to see if the plan is called to scrutiny.
Oakland and Longmeadow Schools in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, will be combined to create a new school after Shropshire County Council cabinet members agreed amalgamation proposals at a meeting yesterday.
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But parents have been left angry with the decision. Andrea Broadhurst said: “We are extremely disappointed. We are going to continue fighting.”
Felix Morris, vice-chairman of governors, said: “Our next step will be to wait to see if it gets called into scrutiny because of the funding. The biggest worry is they are going to do half a job with this new super-school and then walk away and leave us to pick up the pieces.”
This week, it was revealed education managers failed to secure more than £8 million for the countywide schools merger project – as well as a separate £3 million bid for Bayston Hill.
Cameron Taylor, parent governors chairman, said: “We are disappointed our viable alternatives were not given serious consideration.
“Now the council has confirmed at least £3 million for the development of the new school, we look forward to a period of harmony, which will reunite the community and during which the Interim Governing Body will work together for the sake of all the children in Bayston Hill.”
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The document about the meeting on the council website includes a pdf which has the following conclusions:
“There is a strong educational case for the amalgamation”, and “There is a balance of support and opposition from the local community”.
What planet are they on? National government refused them funding precisely because there was no educational need, and as for a balance of support and objection. Since when has 75% objection been a balance? When you play with public money you should deal in facts and figures, not fantasy.
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The Government would not put its money into this scheme as they don’t believe it offered sufficient education benefit, the Council needs to explain why the Dept are wrong and they are right. Scrutiny however is a waste of time. the Conservatives will pack the meeting with representatives who won’t even attempt to ask any difficult questions and then vote down any motion. Even if a vote is passed for Cabinet to have another look at specific issues they’ll just ignore it.
Wait for the elections and then whether you’re at an urban or rural, a large or small school remember what a mess has been made of the management of the organisation of primary education in Shropshire.
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time for the parents to call in jim knight mp the schools minister, he will sort scc out
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If we need a ‘period of harmony to reunite the community’ it is only because of the negative and divisive campaigning by some of the Oaklands contingent.
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I think Oakland should close down it will creat more opatunitys for the area and be helpful to the are
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