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Campaigning to save Herefordshire's schools | |
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The Herefordshire schools review proposals in January 2008 put 35 mainly rural schools at risk of closure or merger. We believe this is a grossly disproportionate response to Whitehall pressure. The initial proposals were quickly withdrawn and assurances have been given that no schools will be closed outside the existing small schools policy. This website has been set up as a one-stop county-wide information resource for all those who believe in, celebrate and wish to protect Herefordshire's schools. Please join the campaign now! If you have events to advertise or information to share, please send them in.
Upcoming Events HEREFORD EARTHWATCH 2008 Monday 9th June is a Schools Day and school groups are invited to attend by appointment. For more details contact Christianne Wakeham on 01547 560 021 or via christianne@kyreoak.co.uk. FAIRFIELD SCHOOL CONCERT AT ABBEY DORE For details or tickets contact The Friends by email via website - http://www.doreabbey.org.uk/, or call Enquiries on 01981 570 251 or 01873 821456. All proceeds to the Dore Abbey restoration fund. POPULATION TRENDS SEMINAR CLEHONGER VILLAGE SHOW
Links Herefordshire schools closures on BBC Radio 4's You & Yours (21/01/2008) Hereford Council education review Herefordshire Association of Governors Schools review consultation email: schoolreview
Save the Herefordshire Schools Facebook Group Bromyard "Close Our Schools Kill Our Town" Facebook Group Save Fairfield High School! Facebook Group Kings Caple School Facebook Save Michaelchurch Escley Primary School Facebook Group
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News continued... Strike will shut schools Hereford Times Schools will close across Herefordshire on Thursday when the National Union of Teachers holds a nationwide strike. Aylestone High School and Wyebridge Sports College will close in Hereford, while Weobley High School will also shut its doors.
Future still not secured for threatened schools Ledbury Reporter Schools in Herefordshire are being urged to look to their own futures and plan ahead during the next three years, or face possible closure, merger or cash shortfalls afterwards. An independent report by academic Dr Peter Boden has revealed that Herefordshire Council's predictions of falling pupil numbers over the next ten years were accurate.
Approval for council's school pupil numbers Hereford Times An independent statistician appointed to look at the county's pupil projections has confirmed that the number of school-aged children in Herefordshire is likely to continue to decline over the next 10 years.
Children accepted on schools admissions after data error Herefordshire Council Ledbury Primary School has agreed to accept nine children above the school's planned admission number next September following an admissions error, where data used to track distance from households to the school had not included all pedestrian pathways on a new housing development. The school and local authority are working to maintain the school's excellent standards.
Parents offered first choice school Hereford Council Parents of the county's pre-school children have been learning which primary school their child will go to in September. Nearly 94 percent of parents in Herefordshire have been offered their first preference, and a further four percent have been offered their second choice.
A school for the 21st century Hereford Times A long-running scheme to replace a crumbling village school is back on track after Herefordshire councillors backed plans to build a new primary school in Staunton-on-Wye.
Thumbs-up for Wyebridge bid Hereford Times Ambitious plans to transform a Hereford school into a state-of-the-art academy have won council backing. Herefordshire Council supported a £22 million scheme to redevelop Wyebridge Sports College into an academy.
College 'crucial' for town Hereford Times Queen Elizabeth Humanities College is crucial to the future of Bromyard, according to a leading county figure. The school was re-launched as a specialist humanities college by guest of honour, Clive Richards, who provided major sponsorship.
Chance to change choice of school Hereford Times Parents with children starting primary school in September have been given another chance to choose where they will start their education.
Ball rolling for academy status Hereford Times Herefordshire Council has agreed to begin the statutory consultation process to change the status of Wyebridge Sports College to an academy in September. The move will bring with it a £22 million capital investment from the government's partnership for schools to rebuild and refurbish the school building.
Affordable homes are key to saving schools Hereford Times A senior government advisor has said the key to keeping Herefordshire's rural schools and communities alive lies with affordable housing.
Call to keep school driving campaign going Hereford Times Help is needed to guarantee Herefordshire's young people have the chance to learn about the dangers of driving before they take to the roads. Sponsorship is needed to fund Dying to Drive, a presentation aimed at young people to raise awareness about taking risks on the county's roads before they get behind a wheel themselves.
Pupils to plan new playground Hereford Times The playground at a city primary school is set for a £7,000 makeover. St Paul's Primary School in Hampton Dene has been selected.
Tots trying to raise money for school Hereford Times Tots at a Ross-on-Wye nursery have pledged to help a school in the Gambia. Pupils, parents and staff at Oak House Nursery School are raising funds for the Freetown Community pre-school in the Gunjur region of Gambia.
Are larger primary schools missing out? Ledbury Reporter THE THREAT of closure facing several small primaries in the Ledbury area has raised concerns that larger schools are not getting their fair slice of the financial pie. Bigger schools like Ledbury Primary, with bigger class sizes, are getting less money per child that rural schools with smaller class sizes. Leader turns up the heat on government: Hereford Times WEST Mercia police now estimate some 4,000 people attended last Wednesday's HASC (Herefordshire Against Closing Schools) rally in Hereford. The group is now in the process of becoming an official organisation and wants to continue fighting for Herefordshire schools.
Thousands march to protect schools: Worcester News IT was the biggest public rally in Hereford since the poll tax demonstration. They arrived in their thousands to support their schools and warn Herefordshire Council - we will be watching you.
"Gobsmacked" at schools march turnout: Hereford Times ORGANISERS of yesterday's save schools march through Hereford described themselves as "gobsmacked" at the 2,000 plus turnout.
You and Yours: BBC Listen Again Hundreds of schools face threat of closure or merger "Several councils have announced plans to merge or close schools to deal with a decline in pupil numbers. Campaigners argue children risk missing out on the benefits smaller schools can bring."
Parents remain cautious: Ledbury Reporter SUSPICIOUS parents are refusing to drop their guard despite assurances from Herefordshire Council that plans to merge Eastnor and Bosbury Primary Schools have been shelved for the time being.
Schools plan is "totally withdrawn": Hereford Times "DRAFT plans to close or merge 37 schools have been totally withdrawn, according to a senior LEA officer. Massive opposition to January's review forced the LEA into a re-think, admitted George Salmon in Bromyard. He faced a "fresh sheet of paper", and was looking for debate and dialogue for the next review, proposed for September."
Church group will monitor schools plan: Ledbury Reporter "CHURCH of England school headteachers and governors will meet every month to discuss the ongoing Herefordshire schools review. Ian Terry, education director for the Hereford Diocese, called more than 60 heads and governors of together for a meeting at Hereford Cathedral, despite the withdrawal of the initial proposals."
More excellent local online coverage can also be found at: http://www.ledburyreporter.co.uk/news/ http://www.herefordtimes.com/news/schoolsclosure/ [check Search for all latest articles]
Hundreds of village schools face axe: The Observer Hundreds of village schools across Britain are being closed, despite a long-term pledge by the government to maintain education in the countryside. The policy U-turn will affect 30,000 children in up to 300 schools in its first stage...
National Association of Small Schools Condemns Government Cuts The Government U-turn shows in heavy squeezing of pupil funding, generous building grants and advice to LEAs that they should not have too many schools, an entirely new mantra, never formally announced...
Labour criticised over village school closures: Daily Telegraph Hundreds of small village schools face closure as part of a national cost-cutting drive, it has emerged. About 300 face closure in England and Wales amid claims that small schools - some with fewer than 50 pupils - are no longer economical.
'This will rip the heart out of our community': The Observer Village schools, Byers vowed, would be safe under a Labour government. Perhaps it should come as little surprise, then, that the people of ... Herefordshire reacted with shock to proposals to strip away or merge 37 small schools in the heart of its countryside.
You and Yours: BBC Radio 4 See under 'Links' (left), click through to BBC and then click Monday for 21st January.
Pressure piles onto cabinet over schools: Hereford Times Cabinet control of Herefordshire Council failed over the schools closure plan - it has been claimed…
Pencombe rejects school closure: Ledbury Reporter Most speakers from the floor were amazed that no consideration had been given to the potential devastation of rural Herefordshire communities, ...
Pupils sing against school shutting: Hereford Times The second smallest school set to shut under Herefordshire Council's draft school closure programme is making a big effort to stay open.
Tory candidate is 'dismayed': Hereford Journal Hereford Conservative parliamentary candidate Jesse Norman said he was "astonished and dismayed" at the proposals.
Council is set for talks after schools uproar: Hereford Times At a meeting last month members voted to back the plan in principle but criticised its lack of detail as presented to them. Herefordshire schools are the ...
Plans to shut schools come: Hereford Times The Bromyard school he represents on Herefordshire Council is one of the biggest losers of the draft school review, Queen Elizabeth Humanties College - the only ...
The Local Education Authority's case for closure spelled out: Hereford Times Herefordshire has less money from central government if pupil numbers dropped and schools will subsequently see cuts in funding.
Head hits out: Hereford Times Another head teacher has publicly hit out at Herefordshire Council's plan to close or merge 37 schools across the county. Vicky Hancock, head of Shobdon ...
Herefordshire's GCSE results continue to improve: 24Dash.Com 2007 was another successful year for the majority of pupils in Herefordshire schools.
Governors' "Sense of Disbelief": Ledbury Reporter Bosbury C of E Primary School has issued the following statement this morning following news of its proposed merger with Eastnor Primary School.
Union to fight school closures: Hereford Times Herefordshire's National Union of Teachers (NUT) has today spoken out against the council's proposed plan to merge and close 37 schools across the county.
Herefordshire Schools Re-Organisation - Message from the Headteacher: Mordiford School News As some of you may be aware from recent press activity, proposals have been received which may involve a major reorganisation of all Herefordshire Schools. Yesterday morning I attended a meeting for all Headteachers.
Planned cuts bring rural Herefordshire out in revolt: By Matthew Engel, Financial Times It is the epitome of agricultural England, and normally the most placid of counties. But for the past few days Herefordshire has been in open revolt against its council after officials proposed a drastic cull of the county's schools, citing the falling birth rate.
Truce offered over schools fight: By Bill Tanner
A truce has been offered in the fight against Herefordshire Council's draft plan to close or merge 37 schools across the county.
Leader's "surprise" at scale of school plan: By Bill Tanner Herefordshire Council leader Roger Phillips has spoken of his surprise at the scale of school closures and mergers proposed in a draft plan for the future of education in the county.
Video: Sharon Menghini, Director of Children's Services, on the closures
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Join SchoolsFirst and help save Herefordshire's schools from cuts! Join SchoolsFirst
What You Can Do 1. Write to your local councillor The names, addresses and emails addresses of Councillors are all here. Please consider writing to your local Councillor. As well as let them know what you think of the proposals, please consider if there are constructive suggestions you can make. It all helps them to represent you. 2. Write to the Consultation Co-Ordinator The Consultation Co-Ordinator is Mr George Salmon. He can be reached by email gsalmon@herefordshire.gov.uk or by post at: Herefordshire Council, 3. Form an Action Group In order to maximise the effectiveness of your campaign, you need to form an action group. This might be 4-5 people who are both committed and have the time to campaign. Ideally you want people who are very close to the school, who really know and can well represent the local community, and who have skills you may need. Lawyers are very useful!
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