Volunteers help create rugby clubhouse
PUPILS, STAFF AND PARENTS GATHER IN PROTEST AT CLOSURE PLAN
A NEWCASTLE rugby club will be able to enjoy a new clubhouse thanks to a project involving volunteers from a local high school and a home improvement retailer.
Social enterprise group Volunteer It Yourself (VIY) joined forces with Wickes and pupils from St Cuthbert’s school for the fourweek project to help create a new home for West End RFC.
The goal of the project was to turn an old police station into a functioning clubhouse for the team, and saw the installation of a new bar area, together with redecoration of the walls and introduction of new carpet tiles.
As well as helping the rugby club, the volunteers got something back with 19 of them gaining accreditations in painting and decorating. The Wickes store in Newcastle helped support the project by donating all the tools and materials required.
Matt Bryan, chairman of West End RFC, added: “The volunteers have worked hard on the project and it has really paid off.
“We’re pleased to have been part of a wonderful initiative, which benefits the young volunteers by teaching them new skills, which hopefully will help them in their futures.” PARENTS and students past and present joined teachers for a last-ditch bid to save their school.
South Shields School was closed yesterday as dozens gathered outside on a wet morning to protest potential closure plans.
Members of teachers’ union NASUWT established a picket line at the school gates, with South Tyneside Council consulting on plans to close the secondary school after it was branded ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted.
Government policy states inadequate schools must be taken over by academy chains, but South Shields School’s low pupil numbers mean potential sponsors have judged it too financially risky.
But protesters argue the school, which enjoyed its best ever GCSE results in the latest academic year, deserves the opportunity to remain open and improve.
Kelly McGihn, NASUWT negotiating secretary for South Tyneside, believes closure would be a “rash” decision, and that pupils don’t want to lose their “second home”.
She said: “We don’t think the school has been given a chance to shine, to show what we can do, especially with the recent improvements and exam results. We think they’ve made a very, very rash decision and we should have been given more time to work on the improvements that have been made. Give staff the chance to show exactly what they’re capable of.
“The kids are really upset, they don’t want to see their school close. It’s like a second home.”
Signs reading ‘We have a voice – Save South Shields School’ and ‘We believe in South Shields School’ were held aloft by protesters, as passing drivers blared their car horns in support.
And Kelly revealed she was “over the moon” with the turnout despite the weather conditions. She added: “People who didn’t have to be here, they’ve turned up ad-hoc to show their support and that goes to show the strength of feeling in the community about the issues at the school.”
Tracey Manning, mum of Year 10 student Sean, was one of many in attendance and stated her belief it was time for parents to give teachers their support. She said: “The school has been so supportive. Parents’ evenings are always fabulous. Over the last year, Sean has come on in leaps and bounds and that’s due to the teaching staff. We’re not going to go down without a fight.”
A council spokesman said: “We encourage all parties to have their say through the formal consultation route, which has been conducted to minimise impact on pupils’ learning.
“As the consultation is currently under way, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
The consultation November 2. will close on