It all ends in tears for failing school (From Basingstoke Gazette)

It all ends in tears for failing school

8:00am Tuesday 22nd December 2009 in Education By Emily Roberts

Mum Sharon Lunnon.

IT was the decision that the campaigning parents expected, but there were still tears as Hampshire’s education chief announced that a Basingstoke school is set to close.

One mum wept as Councillor David Kirk announced after an hour-long meeting that he would be following the advice of Hampshire County Council education officers by agreeing that Chineham Park Primary School in Shakespeare Road, Popley, should shut at the end of the 2009-10 academic year.

Cllr Kirk, the executive member for children’s services, was told by Chris Holt, head of schools organisation, that Chineham Park Primary should close because of its persistent poor performance and falling number of pupils.

At the beginning of Thursday’s decision day meeting in Winchester, Sharon Lunnon, who has lead the parents’ fight to keep the school open, handed Cllr Kirk a petition signed by about 1,500 people who wanted to save Chineham Park Primary.

Even if this could not happen, she pleaded with Cllr Kirk to keep the building for the community, adding: “Don’t knock it down because that’s the last thing we want to see.”

Mr Holt highlighted the key points in his report which recommended pressing ahead with closure, including the fact that the school only made progress with intensive support from Hampshire as the Local Education Authority (LEA). He accepted that there would be disruption for pupils moving to alternative schools but said every effort would be made to minimise this.

He added that staff at the school – which is in “special measures” and has been branded “inadequate” by education watchdog Ofsted – would be supported in finding new positions elsewhere, and that the LEA would help parents who rely on the breakfast and after-school club to find these facilities in other schools.

Councillor Brian Dash assured the parents that the county wanted the best for their children, adding: “The arguments that we have heard are overwhelming that for the children concerned at Chineham Park, they will get a better deal and receive a better education if the recommendation goes through.”

Despite the level of support for the school to stay open, Cllr Kirk decided to follow the recommendation for closure and said: “I feel I have no alternative but to recommend that we publish notices of closure on Chineham Park Primary School.” He did, however, make assurances that the building would remain for use by children’s services.

Mrs Lunnon, who has two boys at the school, said: “The decision is what we expected. I’m not surprised. I do believe it’s what they (the county) wanted and they have used the consultation time to process it. Next year, things would have picked up and the opportunity would have been lost.”

Mother Joanne O’Shea added: “We all knew the decision was going to be made but you don’t want to hear it. It doesn’t make it any easier. No one can say we didn’t give up until the end.”

Local county and borough member Cllr Jane Frankum said she was pleased the site would not be used for housing development, but added that a safer crossing needs to be installed to help children get to alternative schools.

But Popley East borough councillor Andrew McCormick said he doubted Cllr Kirk’s promise to keep the site for educational use, and added: “In five years, I have serious doubt that there will be a building on that site. I feel we have been kicked to the floor and we are down, but the boot hasn’t given us the final kick in the head yet.”

If there are any objections to Cllr Kirk’s decision to close Chineham Park Primary, then the matter will be referred to the county council Cabinet for members to take a final binding decision in March.