Letter to Councillor Charles from Canon Emeritus Richard Orchard formally Vicar of Stoney Middleton and Governor of Stoney Middleton School

(by Webmaster <info@stoneymiddletonparishcouncil.org.uk> on 26th November 2006)

Dear Councillor Charles

STONEY MIDDLETON SCHOOL

I was Vicar of Stoney Middleton (with Baslow and Curbar) from 1992 until August this year. For those fourteen years, I was closely in touch with the schools in all three places, and a governor, most of the time, of Stoney Middleton and Baslow schools.

We were always given to understand that Derbyshire County Council was supportive of small village schools, and this has been borne out with helpful financing. In the process of appointing a new head, we were assured that, provided we could manage the budget, and provide an acceptable standard of education, it was the governors decision whether to keep the school open. That was true right up to the end of July. It is very wounding to have such a volte-face from the County, without prior consultation with the governors. I cannot see that was good practice. Does it really meet with DfES guidelines and expectations?

The quality of educational advice and support from the Local Authority has been very varied. Particularly at Stoney Middleton, we have often had to challenge unfavourable assessments, usually being successful in pointing out wrong facts. The briefing claiming we had twice tried to appoint a head was just too typical. I am particularly alarmed to see a recent report that you have confidential advice suggesting the school does not have a reasonable prospect. It must be right to publish such advice, so that it can be challenged. In my experience, the school gives a sound education, and Lady Manners School will vouch for the grounding given. Your advisors often mention the drawbacks of small year groups. But there are many pluses about the small community, and the experience of parents, pupils, and teachers, primary and secondary, bears that out.

I think you should also be warned that a false picture of the village is given by your use of the number of free school meals. There happen to be none at Stoney Middleton, and a few at Baslow, giving Stoney Middleton a higher affluence rating than Baslow. Anyone who knows the villages will realise that this is nonsense. Stoney Middleton remains a working village, and not many parents have the use of a car at school start and close times. This does mean the appalling walk to Curbar is highly relevant. Just try it in wet weather, with narrow pavements, huge puddles owing to major drainage problems, and frequent large lorries at 40mph.

Regarding the projection of numbers in the school in the next few years, I think you will have already been warned of the unreliability of such statistics. A couple of families moving in can make all the difference.

I do strongly feel Stoney Middleton School should be given the time to test and prove its prospects. Closure would be an immense loss to the village and seems very premature.

Yours sincerely

Richard Orchard

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