Re: Proposed Closure of Stoney Middleton CE (C) Primary School

Speech by Councillor Alan Charles delivered to Patrick McLoughlin MP on Mon 20th Nov 2006

Councillor Alan Charles - Cabinet Member for School Planning & Support

Letter From - Councillor Alan Charles, Cabinet Member for School Planning & Support

To - Patrick McLoughlin MP, House of Commons, LONDON, SW1A 0AA

20 November 2006

Dear Mr McLoughlin

Re: Proposed Closure of Stoney Middleton CE (C) Primary School

Thank you for your letter of 26 October 2006 raising your concerns and objections to the proposal to close Stoney Middleton Primary CE (C) School and for your contribution to the public meeting we held at the school on 2 November 2006.

It is always a very difficult decision to propose the closure of a school and particularly one that is so much at the centre of the village. In making this proposal, we have been mindful of the use made of the building by the whole community and have discussed, on a number of occasions, with the new Diocesan Director of Education the ways forward on this issue. We will do all we can to militate the difficulties caused if this proposal moves to a decision to close the school.

Equally, the Authority is minded to consider the concerns raised about how dangerous the A623 and the route from Stoney Middleton to Curbar may be. There is an independent and objective assessment process and the Authority will take on board recommendations that may be made by those assessing the route as part of this consultation process.

The Authority must take a strategic view when looking at school organisation and school place planning issues, and applies a number of criteria when looking at schools across the County. These include projections of school numbers and surplus places, condition and suitability of existing school buildings, the performance of the schools, including comparative standards of pupil attainment, leadership of the school, distance of alternative provision, maintaining a balance of faith and non-faith provision in the area, impact on community facilities, early years provision, and extended school provision and social deprivation.

This is an on-going process from year to year, but the Authority is not looking in detail at any other schools in your constituency at this time.

Yours sincerely

ALAN CHARLES