Pupils' plea to save school

Published in Derbyshire Times on Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Upset youngsters turned up the heat on education bosses with a heartfelt plea to keep their school open.

All 18 pupils from Stoney Middleton School put pen-to-paper on letters urging Derbyshire County Council bosses to scrap plans to axe the school.

An eight-week consultation period comes to an end today and pupils joined four members of staff - led by acting headteacher, Sue Fitzpatrick - to hand the letters over at County Hall in Matlock, yesterday.

Mrs Fitzpatrick said: "I am very proud of the youngsters. Previously we had left all the publicity to parents and action group committee members - keeping a low profile with the children.

"Our duty is their education and we cannot be diverted from that. But the consultation period ends on Thursday so we thought it was time for them to have their say."

The county council says falling pupil numbers at the 47-place school mean it costs £5,600 per year to educate each youngster - compared with a countywide average of £2,990.

Because of the controversy, the decision is now likely to go to the School Organisation Committee, which comprises county council members, church representatives and school governors.

If the committee is unable to decide unanimously, the issue will be referred to the Government's schools adjudicator for a final ruling.

22 February 2007