Shropshire Council ‘breaking guidelines’ over Wakeman closure plan
Tuesday 3rd May 2011, 11:23AM BST.
An independent policy officer today accused Shropshire Council of breaching Government guidelines in its attempt to close a county secondary school.
Teresa Adams, of Castlefields, Shrewsbury, who has undertaken policy scrutiny work for a number of councils, said she had “grave concerns” about the way it had carried out its consultation and assessment of the town’s Wakeman School.
Mrs Adams, former principal consultant for ex-Government chief advisor Professor David Begg, also warned school officials would appeal to the ombudsman if the council’s cabinet backs the plans tomorrow.
Shropshire Council wants to close the Wakeman and eight primary schools.
Mrs Adams said: “I have looked in detail at the statutory guidance that the Government requires local authorities to follow when they propose closure of a school.
“The council falls far short of those requirements.”
Shropshire Council said that it held regular discussions with all the schools involved and would welcome any viable alternative ideas that schools may have.
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Professor David Begg, Ex Edinburgh Labour Councillor who is a Professor of Transport and advised the government on transport policy and not education.
However, I could believe anything of Shropshire Council and they appear to be experts in ignoring proper legal procedures.
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Well done to this lady for her input, i think alot of people are wondering why this closure is being sought i for one want to know where the million odd pounds has appeared from when mr taylor was telling the bbc news the other day that as dropping pupil numbers and funding has also dropped but in the consultation meetings no one mentioned this sum of money which is not a insignificant amount which surely wasn’t got by cutting a pen and paper order.
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However David Taylor advises the Cabinet and whatever the Cabinet decides tomorrow there is still a long way to go before they can close the Wakeman and there are still lots of options open to those of us who support the school. We will fight the closure every step of the way.
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Sorry Ms Fletcher but if that is the advice you have been given then you are badly served.
Schools being closed against the wishes of some local people is not a new phenomenon. In 99% of cases the schools close.
Use your energy to be positive and help make Meole Brace school even better…
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Port Hill Boy-
Only time will tell which of us is right on this one, until then we’ll just have to wait and see.
At the moment, however, The Wakeman is open whether you like it or not. IF it closes we will choose the best secondary school for our family from the options available at the time, and then no doubt my energy will go into that school. Now, however, my daughter goes to, thrives at, and loves The Wakeman and I will therefore use my energy very positively to support it and do all I can to help ensure its survival.
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I for one do hope that Mrs Adams is correct as i for one think that the whole sorry affair is tainted with faults and that the school should be helped to prosper not resigned to the history books.
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Mrs Adams herself says statutory “guidance”. Not statutory requirements.
Very different animals.
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Statutory is statutory – they have to follow the procedures that the Government sets out and they haven’t. See Department for Education’s website for further details.
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Statutory and statutory are very similar animals Port Hill Boy.
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i do hope there is no corruption at work behind the scenes. some people are moving a little to quickly for my liking to wipe this school off the education map. i think the education secretary should investigate the council and any developers involved
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