Parent joy after school merger plan axed
CAMPAIGNING parents today notched a victory after Suffolk County Council took its first step towards an about-turn over plans to merge two primary schools.
Laurence Cawley
CAMPAIGNING parents today notched a victory after Suffolk County Council took its first step towards an about-turn over plans to merge two primary schools.
In cabinet papers released this lunchtime, members of the county council's decision-making body are being urged to drop proposals to merge Paddocks Primary in Newmarket with Houldsworth Valley Primary.
The call by education officers at the council comes after months of vigorous campaigning by parents of children at Paddocks Primary, who claimed a new enlarged school would be too large and children would be put at risk by extra traffic.
Instead, the county council's cabinet is being asked to extend both Paddocks and Houldsworth Valley.
Delighted parent Louise Hamilton, leader of the Save Our Schools group, said: “This is fantastic - the best news I've had for a long time. We are still waiting for the cabinet but it is very, very positive that they've taken what we have said on board. It is absolutely fantastic and definitely the right recommendation.”
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The cabinet will meet to discuss the recommendation on February 5.
