Free school debate is starting to get nasty

I WRITE regarding the free school at Woolston. Seven years ago the people of Woolston began a campaign to save the high school.

Our parish councillors and MP Helen Jones stood with us at the Town Hall.

One councillor lent me his tin and wooden spoon to make a noise.

Clr Froggat stood at the front of the Church of the Ascension and told us how to save our school.

The Lib Dem/Tory council was blamed.

Then we received a lifeline – a free school. However now we have had a change of party running the council – same people, same criteria, but Labour does not believe in free schools and we are now persona non grata.

Mr Froggat says that the parents of children at Bruche School will be confused if the free school uses the infants. How insulting considering that the leading campaigner Colin Scotland’s child attends Bruche. They are well informed.

I am led to believe that the head teachers and staff of both Green Lane and Foxwood do not want to move as they believe their schools are fit for purpose and adapted as they want them.

Woolston High School was built for more than one thousand pupils.

The time the school will be shut for is at least 12 months and the cost to adapt it then leave two schools empty is immoral.

The remarks coming from Mr Froggat are nasty and uncalled for.

This is not about children’s education, it is political and I for one know where my X will not be going at the next election.

G QUIGLEY Woolston

Comments(5)

ffsgetalife says...
6:46pm Thu 12 Jul 12

The free school should go on the Woolston High site.
Foxwood is not and has never been fit for purpose
Green Lane is not big enough for the number of pupils it houses - especially as it will be expected to have more pupils as it has been re-designated as a 4-19 yrs school from September. Sorry to say G Quigley, you have been misinformed by your source.

lolamum says...
8:14pm Thu 12 Jul 12

sorry but i agree that the new free school should not move to bruche's infants...my children attend bruche primary, the school already has a closed off car park for one for reasons to keep children safe..can you imagine the amount of cars on that tiny residential street for TWO SCHOOLS IN THE SAME PLACE!!! i feel sorry for the residents! i hope this is taken into account...and wonder if the safe car park closure scheme continues when this school is on site too!!!
kings school should find a more suitable and permanant place.. not at bruche!!
And a lot of parents of children at the school think the same

woolston1 says...
10:50pm Thu 12 Jul 12

A community, is an area with shops schools libraries community centres etc. Take any one of these away, and the community will struggle. Woolston has 3 junior schools (4 if bruche is included)There may be less chidren around these days, but 3/4 feeder schools need to send their local children to their communites high school. Most companies,organisati
ons or authorities move with the times.This may involve expansion or reduction depending on demand.Woolston High school was at the centre of the community and for many reasons,the authorities cannot or will not utilise the woolston high school site for local senior education.Fortunatel
y the staff of Kings school woolston believe keeping good senior education local. It makes a refreshing change to see something good happening in the woolston area. once the dust settles,maybe we can all look back and learn from this venture rather than complain and criticise.

Nick Tessla says...
10:33am Fri 13 Jul 12

The support of Michael Gove, the Tory Education Minister, and his department for this and other free schools is nothing to do with educational requirement in the area, a desire to somehow resurrect Woolston High School (that is just a fantasy) or any other local needs and/or wants.


It is purely ideological. If the tories stay in power long enough they will have schools, hospitals, the police etc. all run by profit making corporations - with no say in their running by local people - either directly or via local, elected authorities. Free schools, although not motivated by profit, are the thin end of the wedge.


The people behind this free school, I am sure, are doing it for the best reasons, but I wouldn't be so sure of those involved in whatever the next form of the destruction of our local school system takes.

dntylr69 says...
11:29am Fri 13 Jul 12

Hahaha - All these politically-motivate
d comments just confirm to me that what G Quigley says is absolutely spot on! All politics and nothing to do with what is actually best for our children's education! You certainly ruffled some feathers here - Good on you!!!!!!

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