Council 'bullied' into helping set up free school

3:18pm Wednesday 16th May 2012 in News

Woolston High School could be home to a new special school Woolston High School could be home to a new special school

WARRINGTON Borough Council has accused the Government of deliberately threatening special needs education in the town.

Town Hall bosses have hit out at what they see as bullying by the Department for Education to push through a free school in Woolston.

Clr Colin Froggatt, executive board member for children and young people’s services, said: “The Department for Education are threatening the Council’s long term plans for much needed extended provision for special educational needs children in order to pursue their own ideology.

“They have replaced constructive analysis by bullying the Council and leading the local population up the garden path.”

The row centres on Kings School Woolston, a parent-led free school looking to open in September under the control of super head Sir Iain Hall.

Officials at the Dfe have earmarked the current site at Woolston High School as a possible location.

However, the council intends to move children from Green Lane Special School and Foxwood Special School into the school.

In order to ensure the school opens on time the Dfe has requested the use of the empty infant building at Bruche Primary School as a stop gap.

It has also asked for planning permission to be approved to allow building on the sports fields next to Woolston High School on Hillock Lane.

But if that is turned down the Government’s education department will ‘reserve the right to actively pursue the the use of the powers’ to secure the Woolston High School site.

“This could put at risk the ability to respond appropriately to the needs of some of the most vulnerable children in Warrington,” added Clr Froggatt.

A Dfe spokesman said: “We have had a number of meetings with the local authority and we are in discussion with them about possible temporary and permanent sites for the free school. We expect a decision from them shortly.

“This proposal has been driven by demand from local parents. Like all free schools its aim is to increase choice and raise standards.”

Comments(16)

Y6 Parent says...
7:24pm Wed 16 May 12

Was gutted when they decided to close the old school, tried to move house. Glad someone's got a grip of this council at last, because they won't listen to us. King's school keep us updated on this one, we were worried this would never happen, great news for the parents. Yay!!!

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JonnyScotland says...
9:01pm Wed 16 May 12

Fantastic news with a step in the right direction. It's clear that the local council are running scared and now have egg on their face for the closure of WHS in the first place! The DFE hold all the cards now and I cannot wait for the positive news which is upon us :-) well done everyone for your continued support. The end is in sight!

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mac says...
9:50pm Wed 16 May 12

“This could put at risk the ability to respond appropriately to the needs of some of the most vulnerable children in Warrington,”

How are they managing at the moment? Why do they need to merge the two schools?
I seem to recall Cllr Woodyatt saying the previous administration abandoned plans to build a school on Hillock lane because of strong opposition from local residents, how will that affect plans ?

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Colin Lilypad says...
10:21pm Wed 16 May 12

Yeah, the Council had more than one reason for abandoning that original plan and it was nothing to do with 'residents', cross their palms with silver and they might tell you hint hint...

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PaulAndrews says...
11:13pm Wed 16 May 12

The residents of Woolston always wanted to keep a High School in Woolston. They confirmed their commitment through numerous demonstrations at the Town Hall during the original consultation conducted by WBC. They have continued to validate this support at the subsequent meetings we have held regarding the opening of Kings School Woolston.

Don’t forget that we will be holding another meeting at the Church of the Ascension in Woolston at 7.30pm on Friday 25th May. Please come along and show your continued support and get a full update on the progress of the school.

Thanks Paul

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Sponge1989 says...
11:24pm Wed 16 May 12

When I went to school, back in the good old days at Woolston high, I seem to remember Mrs Passey did a brilliant job welcoming students with certain needs back into our mainstream school so they could adjust and helping them, dont know what all this nonsense is about isolating them all together, doesn't seem fair to me. Seems like segregation from normal society not meeting their needs. If people are really vunerable why put them on such a massive site, surely its better on a small location where people aren't segregated and support is more personal. DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. Sorry. WBC should be more concerned about the majority of children's education in Warrington. If what Froggart is saying is true about 'caring' then how can they still justify CLOSING a high school that caters for the entire community of Woolston and the surrounding...Do they not matter Colin???

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Rex Mundi says...
11:45pm Wed 16 May 12

Bottom line: not enough pupils in Woolston, not for a high school, not for the Free School. Just a vanity project by Mr Gove.

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**JC** says...
11:56pm Wed 16 May 12

“Council bullied into setting up a free school”

How about…..

“Existing school bullied to close by council” that’s more like it!

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DEM0STHENES says...
1:54pm Thu 17 May 12

Ha ha ha… How can you claim ‘Vanity’ whilst operating under the pseudonym ‘Rex Mundi’?

http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Rex_Mundi

It appears that certain individuals view themselves as “King’s at Town Hall”

They would do well to remember they were elected and not given a crown!

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Y5 Parent says...
2:00pm Thu 17 May 12

Councilors - Try attending a meeting to see how many parents and kids are involved in trying to set up this Free School, and to judge first hand their determination to see this project through to success.
Local councilors and the local MP too, have steadfastly avoided attending any of the many meetings held by local parents.
Councilors are treating this project as a political football.
We parents on the other hand are merely committed to ensuring our kids have the best opportunity for a decent education at a local site.
We will not be bullied any more by councilors who's only concern is party politics.

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year 6 Parent says...
7:05pm Thu 17 May 12

The whole project is a waste of government funds which would be put to better use ensuring that staff in Warrington schools are able to stay in their jobs. Instead teaching staff are being made redundant left right and centre by falling numbers! The Woolston community needs to stop being selfish and thinking that their children are more important than others! ALL children should have access to good education so let's make sure money is pumped into local schools and make them a priority. There are about 6 secondary schools within a five mile radius of the old Woolston school 3 within 2 miles WHY DO WE NEED TO PAY FOR ANOTHER???

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ffsgetalife says...
8:49pm Thu 17 May 12

MAC: the 2 special schools are not merging but co-existing on the same site, they will still keep their identities and Grappenhall Hall Boys school will move into Green Lanes site....I think it is cut and dry that the high school site will stay as a high school...someone somewhere is telling lies and misleading kids, parents, school workers and the local community....wonder who it is??

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Colin Lilypad says...
9:59pm Thu 17 May 12

Uh oh, we have a pair of morons!

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Woolston_R_Us says...
10:36am Fri 18 May 12

Woolston 1 - Council 0
About time DFE stepped in to sort out this mess. Perhaps a lesson to WBC to actually "LISTEN" to the public!

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dntylr69 says...
12:51pm Fri 18 May 12

This isn't about selfish neglect of the bigger picture, nor is it political ideology; it is simply concerned parents in Woolston (of which I am one - not a councillor or council official masquerading as one - Rex Mundi - Ahem - Colin Froggatt - Ahem!!) who wants access to a good education for their children.

The council are letting the community of Woolston down firstly by closing the high school over 4000 people signed a petition to save, and secondly and perhaps more importantly by allowing Lysander to fail miserably at providing our children with the education they deserve.

I take my hat off to the people behind King's as they are responding to the overwhelming message from EVERYONE who actually lives in this community - WE NEED A HIGH SCHOOL.

Councillors you have decimated this community by closing one down in the face of overwhelming opposition! EVERY child deserves access to a good education - Currently you fail to provide this to us!!!

This is black and white: Access to good education + Lack of good education in Woolston = NEED for parents to do something about it and open a free school. Not political. Simple. Well done to those behind King's PLEASE Keep up the good work!

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Y6 Parent says...
8:16pm Fri 18 May 12

Well said above. This is something we all fear most as parents, not having a good school to send our children to, it's the topic of conversation almost every day when I pick my daughter up and meet other parents. I'm so pleased that the government have finally listened, isn't it funny how bullies always "cry they're bullied" when someone bigger straightens them out. It's about time if you ask me, full support to Kings School, its been a long wait but looking forward to this school opening.

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