A new middle school in Bury St Edmunds has been approved by the Government – to the dismay of headteachers and governors at existing schools in the town.
The heads of 16 primary, secondary and special needs schools in the Bury Schools Partnership have demanded an urgent meeting with education secretary Nicky Morgan over the announcement.
The heads sent an open letter to Mrs Morgan and the Department of Education (DfE) expressing their dismay at the “astonishing” lack of joined-up thinking and “disgraceful” waste of public money.
The unprecedented move came after academy chain the All Through Trust, which runs County Upper School along with two primary and three middle schools in the area, was granted permission by the Government for a new 400-place middle school. The application was made under ‘free school’ legislation.
Sue Herriott, chairman of the Bury partnership, which is responsible for more than 3,000 children, said: “Bury deserves better than this.
“As headteachers and chairs of governors we are dismayed that a 400-place new middle school has apparently been approved by the DfE at a time when Suffolk County Council is nearing the end of the process of implementing a two-tier primary/secondary system.
“The decision shows a lack of transparent consultation, represents a disgraceful waste of public money, and demonstrates a wilful disregard for local democracy.”
Mrs Herriott, headteahcer at Guildhall Feoffment Primary, added that the “ideological” decision was “scandalous” and would undermine children’s education.
Suffolk County Council cabinet member for education Gordon Jones said the authority shared the views of the 16 schools, saying they are currently exploring a legal challenge.
“To have two systems in one town does nothing to help children and parents,” he said. “There is a reason why we have moved two-tier and it is the same reason why 98% of schools in the country are two-tier – it is better for the children.”
The county council has injected tens of millions of pounds into expanding many primary and secondary schools in the Bury area, while closing existing middle schools and also funding the new Sybil Andrews Academy secondary school on Moreton Hall.
Dr Richard Fletcher, All Through Trust chairman, yesterday insisted the middle school had to be seen in context of its plans for a technology college, which would coexist on the Beetons Way site with the new middle school. County Upper would move from Beetons Way to join the Westley Middle site.
“We are responding to demand from parents,” he said. “We have had to increase capacity at Westley [Middle School] already. Parents should be allowed the choice. The school will not damage education in the town.”
Geoff Barton, headteacher at King Edward VI School, explained why he signed the letter: “We need Nicky Morgan to realise that people making decisions like this in Whitehall have a real impact on pupils and schools.”
He criticised the decision for disrupting years of planning for two-tier education, a model supported by the Tory Government in the past and put in place by the Conservative county council.
A DfE spokesperson said: “The trust is a good sponsor with a strong track record and is a successful teaching school alliance.
“If the proposed school successfully proceeds through the pre-opening phase, it will provide high-quality places and increase choice for parents. We will respond to this letter in due course.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here