Crisis talks held over school's future

Written by Colleen Marples - to comment email colleen.marples@matlockmercury.co.uk and published in Matlock Mercury on Thu 26th Oct 2006

PARENTS at Stoney Middleton School have held crisis talks after Derbyshire County Council decided to press ahead with consultations over closing the school for good.

In a meeting held on October 18, parents, villagers and governors met to discuss the future.

Dulcie Jones, a governor at the school, said: "It was a very positive meeting, the feeling there was unanimous that everyone wants the school to stay open.

"We have formed a group, Save Our School, and we are co-ordinating our efforts."

School governor Sue Bettney added: "It's clear that the council thinks they can ride roughshod over what the community wants. But we won't let them steam-roller this through."

Mrs Jones said: "We had always believed that the county council supported small schools but now they want children to walk a mile and a half along the A623 which is one of the most dangerous roads in the country."

According to the AA website the A623 is listed at number five of roads with the consistently highest risk of a fatal or serious injury accident.

Councillor Alan Charles, Derbyshire County Council's cabinet member for school planning and support, said the crux of the closure issue was it costs £5,678 to educate every pupil at Stoney Middleton Primary School compared to the county average of £2,640.

As a result other pupils across Derbyshire receive less funding than they could be and Derbyshire rate payers are not receiving the value for money they should.

He said: "We have serious concerns about the ability of a school with so few pupils to deliver a viable educational curriculum.

"We have followed all procedures and policies correctly.

"No decisions have been taken and the public consultation currently underway is the first of several opportunities that parents, teachers, governors and the local community will have to put forward their ideas and suggestions."

If the school did close the alternative route pupils would have to walk would be assessed to decide if it was a dangerous route.

If it was then pupils would be entitled to free school transport.

The S.O.S group have tabled several questions to be raised at Derbyshire County Council's next full meeting on November 1.

This will be followed by a meeting held at the school on November 2.