Proposed closure of Stoney Middleton School - From Kath Potter - Parish Representative on the Peak District National Park Authority and member of the Derbyshire Association of Local Council (DALC) executive committee.

(by Webmaster <info@stoneymiddletonparishcouncil.org.uk> on 29th October 2006)

Woodside

Stanton Lees

Matlock

DE4 2LQ

22 October 2006

Dear Cllr. Charles,

Proposed closure of Stoney Middleton School

Since retiring from the teaching profession in July 1994 I have actively engaged with local communities to the extent that I became a Parish Representative on the Peak District National Park Authority (PDNPA) in October 1996 and shortly afterwards a member of the Derbyshire Association of Local Council (DALC) executive committee. As a member of the PDNPA, in the above stated capacity, I have attended, over the past 10 years, the Parish Council meetings in the school at Stoney Middleton on an extremely regular basis, along with numerous other Parish Council meetings in this area.

As a retired teacher I have been impressed by the commitment and dedication of the teaching staff and the resultant high standard of the children's work which is continually displayed in attractive forms of creativity. It has been a joy to behold such enthusiasm and eagerness for each child to develop their full potential. Every aspect of a child's development and learning has been the concern of the teaching staff.

The attractive displays, visual stimulation, in so many forms, pleasant, eye-catching classrooms and every type of learning material has benefited the children over the years with a result that, I believe, the school has not once, but twice, been offered BEACON STATUS by Ofsted. This is no small achievement but a measure of the importance with which the staff have all brought to the classroom enabling each child to reach their full potential. It is, therefore, small wonder that on each occasion this accolade has been offered it has been turned down, in part, because the staff see the furtherance of the children's education at Stoney Middleton of paramount importance whereas if they had taken up the outstanding award for excellence their own contact with the children would be lessened due to visiting other schools. This is most commendable.

I think this rather sad and unacceptable state of affairs, now in evidence, can be seen as a retrograde step. A failure to build upon years of excellent teaching will result in the whole village being affected should the worst scenario be imposed upon this village.

It will see the demise of the local shops including two butchers and a Post Office. I was of the opinion that all Councils and Councillors were fighting the loss of such businesses in order to further sustainable communities.

The fact that other schools in the area will have to try and absorb these displaced children raises grave concerns regarding walking down to Calver or up to Eyam or other schools in the area. Parents must be frantic with worry because the pavements along the A623 are totally inadequate for walking to school, and this situation will be further exacerbated, if, at the same time, pushing a 'buggie' over a much longer distance.

I, personally, have helped with vehicle counts along the A623, The amount of heavy traffic, other vehicles, together with the permitted speed along this road, in this particular area, is a terrifying problem which, no doubt, could result in child fatalities.

As a member of the PDNPA I fought vigorously to encourage more affordable housing in Stoney Middleton some years ago and although the 11 houses were approved, sadly, a higher land offer resulted in these properties never being built. How short-sighted for that is the answer to the housing problem in this village and which would have resulted in more children being in attendance at this school now threatened with closure.

Clearly you are sending out the wrong message by even contemplating closure. I beg you to reconsider your view and to further enhance the excellent academic, social and other pursuits at Stoney Middleton School.

Yours sincerely,

Kath Potter.

CC Patrick McLoughlin MP, Stoney Middleton Parish Council, Beth Ely, Cllr. Nigel Allwood

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