Plans to shut almost 40 schools across the region have devastated parents and teachers.
Lorraine Keech with son Keiron
|
At a meeting this morning council bosses in Northumberland dropped the bombshell that over the next three years 30 schools will be closed - almost one in every six schools in the county. Alexandra Middle, Coulson Park First and Linton First Schools are the first to face the axe. This follows the closure of three schools in South Tyneside, with Temple Park Infants being reprieved. Lemington Middle School in Newcastle is being closed due to surplus places and proposals are in place to close the city's Throckley, Chapel Park and Chapel House schools. Outside Coulson Park today there was bitterness among parents and grandparents. Tina Richardson, who has three-year-old Ethan and Bethany, aged four, in the school's nursery, said: "We're absolutely gutted by the news. It's appalling and a disgrace." She added: "This is a proper community school and one of the best in Ashington. The community around it really gets involved and if they think they can close it they'll have a fight on their hands. We'll do anything and everything we can to keep it open." Helen Phillips, who has a son, Jake, five, at the school said: "This is an absolute bombshell for us. "How can Tony Blair say education is so important when this is happening? The children here have integrated well and if the school closes they're going to be disrupted and sent to schools all over Ashington. We have enough to worry about without shutting down a perfectly good school." Mrs Richardson said: "How can the Government say it wants to reduce class numbers? Closing this school is going to push up the size of classes in the other schools. "We suspect that Coulson Park is on premium land and if closed will be demolished and more houses built on the land. That'll bring in more families and mean even more pressure for places in the other schools." Bob Sawyer, whose grand-daughter, Rebecca, was a pupil at Coulson Park until she was killed by a stolen car on New Year's Eve, said: "This is the best middle school in Ashington. My nieces and grand-bairns go here and as far as I'm concerned this is the best one for them. It'll be a shame if it's closed just to make way for houses." Carol English, whose sons Christopher, six, and Joseph, four, attend Coulson Park, said: "I'm absolutely devastated by this news. It's a lovely school."
Carol English with sons Christopher and Joseph
|
She added that although there are 23 per cent surplus places at the school a rise in pupil numbers is expected next year. A Northumberland County Council spokesman said: "We had a schools review done in September 2001 and discovered there are a lot of surplus places in our schools. We have to work to a Government target of no more than 10 per cent of places being surplus. "In Northumberland we have 7,000 surplus places and some of our schools have 50 per cent of their places empty. "I also know of a school in Northumberland where 70 per cent of its places are surplus and has only 18 pupils on the school roll. "Resources are being stretched to the limit and we aim to save £3.5 million over the next three years by closing 30 schools. The news has shocked parents and teachers who are worried that their school will be one of those to be closed. Moira Frankland, head of Lowick Community First School in Berwick, said: "It is of concern to all heads if there are to be closures. "There are falling rolls throughout the authority because of the nature of the birth rate. The number of children coming to our school this year was low but it is due to go up next year." Doug Borthwick, head of Alnwick St John's RC First School, said he was "very disturbed" about the news that 30 schools in the county are to be closed. John Heslop, regional officer for the National Association of Head Teachers, said there will be 30 "very worried" heads in the county. "Headteachers are in very vulnerable positions because, whereas teachers can be absorbed into new schools, there is only one job at each school for a head," he explained. "Northumberland is strapped for cash and a decision has to be made, but I hope the local education authority will consult all the professional associations, including the NAHT." Linda Wilkin, Northumberland representative of the National Union Teachers, said the closures could lead to redundancies at schools. It's a worry for teachers, but if the numbers of pupils are falling the council does have to make harsh decisions," she said. Evening Chronicle comment Page 2: Anger over cash claims.... | 
