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

Shropshire Schools Helpline Volunteers Praised

A team of Shropshire Council volunteers who helped to inform parents about school closures during the recent bad weather have been praised for their efforts.

During spells of bad weather parents are able to call the council’s ‘Snowline’ to find out if their child’s school is closed that day.

Between Wednesday 6 and Thursday 14 January a small team of volunteers were at Shirehall in Shrewsbury at 6.30am each day to help deliver the Snowline service, and to make sure that the council website provided the latest school closures information.

The Snowline was also activated on the afternoon of Wednesday 13 January when many schools opted to close early due to the heavy snow.

In total more than 30 people helped deliver the Snowline service over this period.

Figures show that between 6 and 14 January more than 3600 calls were made to the Snowline, with more than 1100 of these being made on just Wednesday 6 January. During this period there were a total of almost 200 school closures in the Shropshire Council area.

Councillor Keith Barrow, Leader of Shropshire Council, said: “Due to the extreme weather of the past two weeks a large number of our schools had to take the difficult decision to close, or to close early.

However, despite the snow, ice and cold weather our team of dedicated volunteers came into Shirehall early each day to help provide this vital service. I would like to thank them for their efforts in helping to keep parents informed.”

Telephone / Broadband Delays 6 January

It is possible that the Welsh Bridge will be open to pedestrian traffic from 7.00am tomorrow morning.

BT are progressing well with their work, but we will still maintain our current business continuity plans until we are reasonably sure that the connections will be maintained and reliable.

Connections resumed (as at 4.30pm 6th January 2010) –
· Guildhall
· Crematorium
· Sports Village
· Weeping Cross
· Theatre Severn
· Nettles Lane
· Castle View
· Alexander Road, Oswestry
· Oswestry Leisure Centre
· Ellesmere Country Team
· Lakelands School

Interruptions Still Continuing (as at 4.30pm 6th January 2010) –
· Victoria House, Shrewsbury
· Winston Churchill Building
· Old Market Hall
· Ashford Carbonell School
· Bridgnorth Endowed School
· Maesbury Primary
· Meole Brace CoE Infants
· Oldbury Wells
· Corbett School
· Grove School
· Marches School
· Whitchurch CofE
· Bishops Castle School

The council are operating a Snow Line again tomorrow morning in case of school closures resulting from the inclement weather conditions.