Local Lib Dems concerned at Labour's plan to axe two local schools

2.45.49pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Nov 2006

Outside Wisewood School (left to right) Penny Baker Walkley Lib Dem campaigner, Steve Ayris Hillsborough Lib Dem campaigner and Cllr Vicky Priestly Lib Dem councillor for Stannington

Local Liberal Democrat councillors and campaigners in Stannington, Walkley and Hillsborough have reacted to the news that the Labour council plan to axe two local secondary schools. They are concerned at closing both schools and they are suspicious of the plan for a new school on the Myers Grove site.

Under plans put forward by the council both Wisewood Secondary School and Myers Grove Secondary School will close and a new school will be built on the Myers Grove site with a reduction of many pupil places. The move will leave the Hillsborough Ward without a local secondary school.

Lib Dems have highlighted a number of concerns including: -

> The consultation with parents only includes the option of closing both schools. The council have will not let them consider to take the option of no closures or one closure with the new school remaining under council control.

> Wisewood School has just achieved excellent examination results at GCSE level in 2006 - 59% of students gaining 5+ good GCSE grades (an improvement of 27% over 4 years). Why should such a successful school close?

> The new school at Myers Grove is likely to be run by an independent trust, therefore taking another local school outside of the LEA family and raising questions over admissions and curriculum.

> The plan will lead to many pupils having to travel further to school worsening congestion problems in the Malin Bridge and Hillsborough area.

> Government policy could change between now and 2011, leaving the local area without the investment to fund building the new school.

Lib Dems in the local area will be distributing a survey to local residents on the issue. The survey will ask if locals support the councils plan and also if local people have any major concerns regarding the council decision.

In a joint statement Steve Ayris, Hillsborough Lib Dem campaigner, Cllr Vicky Priestly Lib Dem councillor for Stannington and Penny Baker Walkley Lib Dem campaigner, said: -

"We are extremely concerned at Labours plan to axe two local schools. Given that Wisewood has been achieving excellent exam results in recent years local parents will be alarmed at news of the closure"

"Labour have only consulted on the option of school closures. They appear to have ruled all other options out without talking to local parents. This is typical of Labours 'we know best' attitude within the Town Hall"

"The councils plan raises many questions for local parents. Who will run the proposed new school at Myers Grove? What guarantees are there over the funding of the new school? These are questions which need to be answered"

"We are suspicious of Labours plans and believe that they might not be in the best interests of education for North West Sheffield. We will be talking to local people to find out what they think of these proposals"