Criticism over ‘done deal’ to shut down struggling school

The controversial closure of the Chaucer Technology College has moved another step nearer after county councillors formally backed the move.

But the political recriminations over how the closure bid was managed and decided continued, with opposition councillors denouncing Kent Council for presenting a “done deal” which they had no involvement in.

The school is set to close in September for all but pupils in Year 10 and will shut its doors permanently in 2015.

The county council has faced criticism over its handling of the process and failing to address earlier issues over standards and the school’s spiralling deficit, which was forecast to grow to £600,000 this year.

Councillors on KCC’s education cabinet committee discussed the closure plan this week (Tuesday 22) and were told by KCC’s education director Patrick Leeson the school’s problems meant it was unviable and closure was unavoidable.

“It is a done deal because the school can no longer function. Parents have voted with their feet.”

Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Gordon Cowan said it was a disgrace and “absolutely appalling” that councillors had been give no opportunity to properly consider the school’s fate.

“This was a done deal before it even came to this committee for us to have our say. It is abso- lutely appalling that we did not know anything about this until we read about it in the press. The only reason we are closing this school is because of the deficit.”

Cllr Roger Gough (Con), the cabinet member responsible for schools, said he accepted criticism over how the plans had leaked.

“I find it deeply, deeply regrettable that parents found out in this way. I acknowledge that the way the information came out added to the stress of the situation.”

Around 230 students at the college have now found places at other schools in the area, leaving around 138 in Year Ten to continue their GCSE studies at Chaucer.