Schools update

See the report on the Page link top right.

The adjudicator has not upheld the objection by Sandford Middle to the reorganisation of Purbeck's schools by DCC. The decision document can be read here:
http://www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk/decisions_all.cfm?casetype=search&year=0&order=lea
A sad day for our middle schools, which will close in 2012.

If that link doesn't work try this one:
http://www.schoolsadjudicator.gov.uk/decision.cfm
Type Dorset into the LEA box and submit, then scroll to the bottom of the page. Reorganisation of schools...Not Upheld...Nov 2010



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 6:49

Swanage schools

Urgent message !!!!


Please please encourage as many people in Swanage to attend this hugely important meeting, with the adjudicator, this evening - 8th November- at Swanage Middle School 6pm.

This is the last opportunity to respond to the Schools Review Consultation Process

Please turn up to show that the people of Swanage and villages care about local children and their education.  We need to show our support.

If over 3,000 people can respond to the Herston Fields situation, this shows that people do care about the future of our town, so please try to encourage as many people to come along to a meeting that will change things for ever for our children, schools and community.

The adjudicator will listen to all of the reasons why we think its important for local children to be educated in this community and the problems that have been highlighted within the consultation process.  Even if you don't feel able to speak, please come along if you are able. 
It is important that we understand how these changes effect this community.

Even if you don't have children this decision will effect  the whole of the Swanage community and surrounding areas.

In the past, the older generation have supported Swanage Middle School, with history topics, crafts, reading support, sports etc.  Volunteers are easily able to support local children when education is local.  This has been of benefit to the children and to these people involved.   It would be a sad day if this relationship could not continue.

Schools

Skools bak on ahjender!

The people of Swanage - and surrounding area - hath spake!

They want change.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/8674446.stm



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 6:05 PM

Schools update

Please can the schools have another thread.

Community and PDC Councillors have grave concerns about lack of funding



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 8:22 PM

Swanage Secondary School

Secondary Update. Parents will not give up !!

Swanage parents fighting for secondary school
7:00pm Monday 1st February 2010
Dorset Echo

This resolution was passed by Swanage Town Council at its meeting on 1st February:

Swanage Town Council deplores the recent decision of Dorset County Council's Cabinet (1) to conduct no consultation with the residents of Swanage on the County Council's intentions towards the future of Secondary school education
in the town; and (2) to carry out no Economic Impact Assessment of the likely economic and social effects of the planned withdrawal of Secondary education from Swanage.


Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 12:23 AM

Schools

"We feel it would be wrong to consult on an option that is costly, both financially and to young people's education, and which defeats the point of the review".

Our Schools are back on the agenda.

http://www.wessexfm.com/news/review.php?article=110508



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:09 PM

Schools Review 2 Dec

Dorset County Council's Cabinet agreed this morning that :

a) the consultation on Primary schools should include only the option that retains both St George's and St Mark's (so St George's is officially safe)

b) that Officers should take further time (until the next Cabinet meeting on Jan 20th) to explore Secondary options in more detail and to consult with groups supporting both a twin-campus school and those supporting a single-site school.

Schools update 24 November

The meeting of the County Council's Overview & Scrutiny Committee today altered recommendations to the cabinet over the proposed secondary school for Swanage & proposals to move St Georges First school in Langton Matravers to a new site.

If the cabinet agrees this decision St Georges school is saved - the option for consultation is to retain the school on its existing village site, rather than merging it with St Marks, which would be redeveloped on the existing Middle School site.

A hard fought victory was also won for the Education Swanage campaigners; councillors amending the recommendation proposed that Purbeck parents were to be offered the opportunity to be consulted on a proposed split site Purbeck school with a site in Swanage as well as the existing one in Wareham.

"This issue has seen members of all political parties working together," said Ros Kayes, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for South Dorset, who spoke in favour of both proposals today, " and it's a small victory for local democracy. But it is really a tribute to the tremendous hard work done by the communities in Langton & Swanage who have refused to be beaten by this consultation. They have rallied support round, conducted research that contradicts that of the officials & really challenged the imposition of these changes. They have fought every step of the way & I am overjoyed at the result for them."


If accepted by the Cabinet the new proposals will go out to public consultation in January. Only one councillor opposed the changes.

The First/Primary School Debate

All comments encouraged.

Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 11:45 PM

Education Swanage come along on Saturday 17th

Education Swanage

The discussions with DCC about options for a secondary school are ongoing. DCC are very negative in their language and approach, and essentially they don't want to spend any money (if they have any to spend, which they say they do) but there are interesting developments and the more negative they become the more it seems to be in desperation to prevent a momentum building around the town which might make them do something visionary. A broad curriculum is an issue which we need further expert advice on, but the experts we have spoken to already tell us it's all doable with a little imagination and some timetabling software. Maybe I'm just being overly positive, but why be anything else?

Anyway, at last Education Swanage has a public face and (maybe foolishly) we welcome comments and questions. Most people on here seem to value their anonymity, so post questions etc here if you do, otherwise we can be contacted through our website at http://www.educationswanage.co.uk


Lots of info on there to digest, and as we gather it in we'll be publishing more.



Posted by Paul Angel to swanageview at 9:26 PM

A NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR SWANAGE

The schools and residents of Swanage have managed to get more consultation on how two-tier education will work in the town. But this does not have to be limited to primary schools.

Swanage should get a new secondary school rather than bussing over 700 children from the area to Wareham every day.

We are the ONLY town in Dorset not to have a secondary school (except for new town Verwood) but we have enough children to fill one.

The Purbeck School will soon take 1750 children - making it enormous - bigger than 97 per cent of secondary schools in the country - most are half that size. Do we want children to go from tiny village schools to a huge comp split over two sites in Wareham? Why can't one of the sites be here?

The town lost its two secondary schools by one vote in 1974. This is a chance to put it right.

We could get adult education and sports facilities at the same time, plus all the benefits of after-school activities and better parental involvement.

Jim Knight agrees, Bill Trite agrees, the main Conservative party agree and say that communities should have their own schools. Only Dorset CC want to deny us the right to have this choice.

Carl Styants



Posted by Anonymous to swanageview at 3:39 PM