School Places Solution Vital

The problem of surplus school places in Shropshire is back on the front page (Shropshire Star 2nd Feb). Now the spotlight has moved on to our secondary schools, which are reported to be facing large reductions in pupil numbers over the next 5-6 years.  This issue has been central to school funding in our County in recent years. To be fair to the controlling Tory group on the former County Council, they did recently attempt to tackle surplus numbers in the primary sector.  Sadly, rank and file Tory Councillors when faced with the inevitable angry protests buckled under the pressure, and appeared more concerned with the approaching unitary elections than with making progress on the matter.

Well, the problem has not gone away. I fully appreciate, and sympathise, with village residents concerned about the risk of closure to their school. On top of the loss of the local shop, pub and bus service this can seem like the last straw. But we must all accept small rural schools cannot be considered in isolation. Surplus places kept open mean less funding for the rest of our schools, including those in both village and town.

In my opinion what is required is an approach that considers the whole of our school system, and whilst listening fully to the people,  is not then derailed by narrow local electoral considerations. The issue is very emotive and inevitably supporters of some schools will be disappointed. The ruling Conservatives on Shropshire Council face some very tough decisions on the matter, but to do nothing is no longer an option.

What was not acceptable was the stance of certain prominent local Tories, who sought to blame the Labour Government for Shropshire’s surplus place problem. Spouting misleading and  inaccurate claims will not solve the problem, and does nothing to foster the informed debate we all need to have on the subject. The funding figures per pupil are largely a product of past failures to tackle the surplus place problem. No Government, of whatever party, is going to pay us to maintain significant numbers of empty desks.

If the same people repeat these claims now, they will truly have exposed themselves to be unable to understand simple mathematics, or worse, to be total cynics.

Primary Capital Events

A number of Public Information Events have been organised with regards to the school building works within the Primary Capital Programme. These open events are an opportunity for staff, parents and the local community to view the plans and discuss them with Council officers who will be in attendance.

For your information below are details of the four events which you might wish to attend if you are available:

• Holy Trinity CE Primary School – 2nd Feb 2.45pm – 6.00pm @ Old Beechgrove School Hall

• Mereside CE Primary School – 2nd Feb 3.30pm – 6.00pm @ Infant Site School Hall

• Grange Primary School – 4th Feb 3.00 – 6.00pm @ School Hall

• Meole Brace CE Primary & Nursery School – 4th Feb 3.30pm – 6.00pm (Room to be Confirmed)

If you are able to attend please could you confirm by email. If you have any queries regarding these events please do not hesitate to contact Matthew Mellors:

Matthew Mellors

Project Development Officer

Children and Young People’s Services

Shropshire Council

matt.mellors@shropshire.gov.uk

Tel: 01743 254460

Breakfast! It’s Whats for Lunch.

It’s breakfast for lunch at primary schools for one day only

Shropshire school pupils will be able to eat breakfast for lunch as part of a special menu in primary schools next week.

Pupils can tuck into a special menu on Friday 29 January to celebrate Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which takes place next week.

The menu will feature a traditional farmhouse breakfast, made up of bacon, local sausage, free range scrambled eggs, beans, hash browns and a wholemeal wedge of bread.  There will also be the option of a Vegetarian breakfast, consisting of a wholemeal bread plait containing, vegetarian sausage, tomato and mushrooms topped with cheese, served with hash browns and baked beans.

Alongside that will be a choice of marmalade muffins, strawberry and oat cookie, fruit, yoghurts and fresh fruit salad.

Wendy Seager, Shropshire Council area supervisor responsible for the event, said: “We want parents and pupils to remember that breakfast is a really important meal of the day, and hope that pupils and parents will continue to support the school meals service.”

Meanwhile, pupils have an extra incentive to eat school meals in January with a competition giving the chance to win tickets to Alton Towers, an England football kit, or tennis equipment.  If a pupil eats 10 meals in between 11 January and 5 February, they are entered into the prize draw.

Ann Hirst, area manager at Shropshire Council, said: “With 2010 having so many key sporting events this promotion will provide some fun and offer some prizes to promote an active lifestyle.”

Councillor Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for children and young people, said: “School meals are an excellent way of ensuring your child eats a healthy and nutritious meal every day.  Promotions such as Farmhouse Breakfast Week and this competition are a bit of fun and aimed at keeping children interested in their school meals.”

SHROPSHIRE SCHOOL FUNDING

Tory Peter Nutting asks why Shropshire Council’s schools funding from the Government is towards the bottom of range.

The reason is that the Tory controlled County Council totally failed to grasp the nettle of the surplus places in Shropshire.
The facts are we have many empty desks in schools across the county, urban and rural. Taxpayers cannot be expected to pay to fund fresh air. We only get paid per actual pupil in school, not per desk available.

The Tories failed to take that hard decision to remove those surplus places, despite drawing up plans to do so in 2008. Instead with elections looming they ducked the issue, with the result we now have £1m less in the budget, with next year another £1m due to be lost.

So please Peter, give voters the real position on school funding and stop misrepresenting it.