Letter from Lathonia Miller, voluntary teacher to Strategic Director for Children and Younger Adults (ref DVE/DAH)

(by Webmaster <info@stoneymiddletonparishcouncil.org.uk> on 22nd February 2007)

Whitebeam Cottage, The Nook, Stoney Middleton Hope Valley, Derbyshire S32 4TU tel. 01433 631590

Strategic Director for Children and Younger Adults (ref DVE/DAH) Derbyshire County Council County Offices Matlock Derbyshire, DE4 3AG 9th February 2007

Dear Sir

Stoney Middleton C of E (C) Primary School

I have worked in Stoney Middleton Church of England Primary School for 17 years as a voluntary teacher. I was also a Governor of the school for 10 years.

When you walk into our school, there is an immediate feeling of welcome and friendship, the children are happy in their work. Children of different ages integrate very well, both in school and at playtime. Small classes enable the teachers to give each child more individual attention; for example, at Christmas the acting head teacher, instead of giving each child the same present, was able to find gifts to suit each individual child. This is often the very reason why parents choose a small school like ours.

We have just had a child, now moved up to Lady Manners, who came from a large urban school and was quite withdrawn before coming here. This child blossomed at Stoney Middleton school, educationally and socially.

As our children leave to go to Lady Manners they do well, and good reports come back to our school.

Not only is the building our school, but it acts as our village hall as well - many different organisations meet there in the evenings, not least the Parish Council. If the school was to close the Church authorities will not keep the building for us to use as a community centre - they will have to sell it at the highest price that can be obtained, for the benefit of other Church schools elsewhere. We would then have no meeting place for the Parish Council, Womens' Institute, Christmas Fairs, Horticultural Society and Well Dressing AGMs, Bingo evenings, etc.

We are a very close knit community here in Stoney Middleton and losing the school would take the heart out of the village. I really believe that account must be taken of the needs of every single one of our children, and also of the choices made by their parents who want to keep them at our own school here in the village.

I therefore object strongly to the proposal by the County Council to close our school; it is at the centre of our life in this village and having children there is essential to keeping our community spirit alive.

Yours sincerely

Lathonia Miller (Mrs)

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