Clare college fight goes to minister
DISTRAUGHT campaigners for a new community college in Clare have called on a Government minister to intervene after county education chiefs refused to back the project.
Shocked and angry supporters have slammed the Suffolk County Council decision and admit their options are fast running out.
"We are clutching at straws. Unless someone steps in to help we have no hope," said Jim Meikle,chairman of the group promoting the idea.
Clare and the Local Area for Rural Education (CLARE) has spent three years putting together plans for a new secondary school to replace the town's middle school which will close when west Suffolk returns to a two-tier education system.
Their aim of a community college similar to those in Cambridgeshire was backed by local schools, councils and 1,200 families who sent letters supporting the project.
But following a meeting with county education bosses, the group was told the plan had been rejected. Pupils from the Clare area are expected to go to secondary schools in Haverhill when the two-tier system is introduced in 2011.
CLARE strongly disputes the county view that this would be the best solution and claims a community college would cost no more than 7 million compared with 25 million to make the necessary changes to Haverhill schools.
"We had a three and a half hour meeting to discuss our draft plan and agreed what some of the stumbling blocks were, and said we would give them a fuller explanation of the finances," said Mr Meikle.
"When we chased them up for their reaction we got a letter saying the plan had been rejected. We were flabbergasted."
Now they see education minister Jim Knight as their only hope and on Monday appealed to him to take the matter out of the county council's hands.
"Suffolk County Council has a conflict of interest and should not be permitted to be the deciding factor in his issue," said Mr Meikle. "Their policy is based on a political, financial and management agenda which has nothing to do with the educational needs of local children.
"They have ignored Government policy in respect of children, education, and the presumption to maintain rural schools.
"These people are not accountable because Suffolk County Council will soon cease to exist under reorganisation so we won't even be able to vote them out."
Patricia O'Brien, county portfolio holder for children, schools and young people's services said population and housing data for the next 20 years did not support the need for a third high school in the Haverhill area.
"The two schools in the area provide high quality secondary education for young people and have sufficient space to meet future demand for secondary school places."
barbara.eeles@sudburytoday.co.uk
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Friday 25 May 2012
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