Ifton Heath Primary loses academy fight

Wednesday 1st February 2012, 11:00AM GMT.

A primary school facing closure as part of plans to create a ‘super- school’ near Oswestry has lost its bid for academy status.

Nicola Bradley, headteacher of Ifton Heath Primary School in St Martins, today said the school and its governors were angry at the decision and were demanding an explanation from the Department of Education.

Last year campaigners claimed the bid for academy status was the ‘only option left’ to save it.

The application was made after Shropshire Council approved plans to close the school and create a new all-through school at the village’s Rhyn Park Secondary School.

Mrs Bradley said that in a letter to the school Under Secretary of State for Eduction Lord Hill said the decision was not a judgement of the strengths of Ifton Heath.

The letter says: “It is about maintaining long term provision of both primary and secondary education in the area.”

But Mrs Bradley said staff and governors felt the school was being sacrificed to retain Rhyn Park Secondary School.

She said: “We are a successful school with no financial worries.

“We all feel Ifton Heath has not been considered for its own merits.”

The school has now written to Lord Hill asking for more explanation.

However, Mrs Bradley said the school had been told that there was no appeal procedure.

“We are not going to give up, but clearly our cause has been made more difficult by the decision,” she said.

In this year’s primary school league tables Ifton Heath was named among the most improved in the county.

If the decision is upheld the new super-school will be formed at the start of this year’s autumn term.

However, the primary school children will remain on the Ifton Heath site until building work is completed.

1
concerned parent

February 1, 2012 at 16:03

really can not understand how a perfectly good school is going to be merged with a debt ridden and under performing school as league table results showed last week.

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2
twiggo

February 1, 2012 at 19:55

The whole school closure thing’s been a farce. Not entirely surprising when it’s been driven by a small team of senior managers/councillors with little experience of schools.

A primary school that has been saved from closure serves 16 kids from its local area and yet another which now faces closure serves 200 local kids. Most of the schools that will close are particularly good at providing opportunities for disadvantaged children. Some of the schools up for closure provide a good quality of education and are improving while some schools that are not are being kept open. Some schools that are being closed have no debts, some that are being kept open have huge debts (and not particularly inspiring educational achievements) etc etc.

It’s a shame that Shropshire Council didn’t say at the beginning “we are going to do this, there isn’t any proven educational or financial value in the proposals but the Secretary of State says we can, like it or lump it.”. I, for one would have used my time far more effectively than fighting this unwinnable campaign. We need a new Council – vote wisely come the next election.

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- helen
  
  February 3, 2012 at 10:30
  
  twiggo-
  
  ‘It’s a shame that Shropshire Council didn’t say at the beginning “we are going to do this, there isn’t any proven educational or financial value in the proposals but the Secretary of State says we can, like it or lump it.”.’
  
  I agree. And maybe then they could also have put their efforts into supporting us and our kids through the awful situation which they made instead of just caring about ‘winning’. How much did the ‘consultation’ cost? It was a complete farce- why waste our time bothering with it at all. They treated the schools they wanted to close like opponents to be beaten at all costs, and their supporters with contempt. A shameful business.
  
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3
helen

February 3, 2012 at 08:30

A school is not only a vital part of its community but it is a community in itself. It takes years and years for a decent school to develop and is a precious thing. Our appalling council, backed by an equally appalling government, couldn’t care less about that and is destroying things we need and love. The staff, communities, families and most importantly children caught up in these terrible school closures just don’t seem to matter. My thoughts are with everyone at Ifton Heath.

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