MPs debate school issue (From Tewkesbury Admag)

MPs debate school issue

THE fight to save Alderman Knight School is going right to the top.

Local MP Laurence Robertson has been chosen to hold an adjournment debate on the threatened closure of the special needs school.

It will take place at 7pm on Wednesday, September 8, and chairman of the Governors, Dave Waters, is organising a coach trip to take people along to support him.

He said: "It's still very much in the planning stage at the moment but we want to demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament, and if possible listen to the debate, but I don't know what the current situation is."

"The thing I need to sort out first is how many people want to come along, so that I know what size of coach or coaches to book.

"It will be funded by the Special Schools Protection League, so hopefully it will be free of charge.

"We are also planning on taking some of the children with us - something we have shied away from in the past but now we feel we have nothing to lose."

MP Laurence Robertson said: "I will be suggesting that the process of consultation was flawed in that the previous options proposed by the county council did not include closure of the school.

"There are a number of other issues that need investigating and I am taking legal advice on the way the whole process was carried out, and may ask for a judicial review.

"The minister has to be present at the debate and must respond,"

Anyone interested in going along should contact Mr Waters on 01452 780805.

Closer to home a poll of local residents will go ahead if the county council decides to close the school.

The county council cabinet's decision to close the school has now been called in for consideration by the full council, on the grounds that the children were not consulted. It will be discussed at their meeting on Wednesday, September 15.

The strategy and resources committee agreed last week that if the decision is to close it they will go ahead with a poll of the whole borough.

It will be carried out by Electoral Reform Services, which will send ballot forms asking the single question 'Should Alderman Knight School - a special school that caters for children with moderate learning difficulties and a wide range of other needs - be closed' to 61,000 addresses within the borough.

The total cost of the poll will be around £30,000.

The final decision on the school's future lies with the Schools Organisational Committee, which meets in October.

Supporters feel that the results of the poll could have a big influence on its decision.