Battle to save school
COUNCIL AND MP LEAD FIGHT TO STOP GOVERNMENT FROM CLOSING HIGH SCHOOL
THE fight is on to save a secondary school.
The decision to close Newall Green High School in Wythenshawe was blasted as ‘short-sighted’ by Manchester council’s schools boss.
It has provoked wide-spread anger in the south Manchester suburb and beyond.
The Department for Education, responsible for the controversial call, says dwindling pupil numbers are to blame.
For children, parents, residents – and many staff – that explanation simply won’t do. Wythenshawe’s MP and the town hall have backed calls for a rethink.
Those opposing the move say the government’s reasons for imposing the closure do not justify forcing hundreds of kids to move schools, separating them from their friends and teachers, and potentially putting their futures at risk.
A petition entitled ‘stop the closure of Newall Green High School’ has been signed by nearly 400 people. A Facebook group set up by parents determined to overturn the decision already has nearly 600 members.
Pupils have also taken to the school fields to make their voices heard. Videos seen by the M.E.N. shows scores of pupil chanting ‘Newall Green’ as they marched around the school pitches.
MP Mike Kane said he strongly opposes the government’s decision. He branded it ‘nonsense.’ He said: “This is 70 years of institutional memories they are trying to destroy.”
Mr Kane said he would be putting forward key questions to the education minister in the House of Commons next week.
Manchester council has also backed calls for the school to be saved. Executive member for children and schools, Garry Bridges, said bosses will write to the academy trust and Department of Education in the upcoming days.
He said: “People in the local area are really worried about this.
“Our main problem is that I don’t think this decision was made in the interest of our children in any way.
“Kids that are in Year 9 now have to wait until February to find out what school they are going to in September, which isn’t right.
“There is no time for families or kids to adjust to that.”
The issue was raised as an urgent matter at the town hall’s latest executive meeting. Coun Bridges made it clear it wasn’t the town hall making the decision. He told the chamber: “It’s something that we’re going to oppose. The speed that they’re looking to do this decision doesn’t take into account is how important a school is – it’s the source of all their friendships, what they build their life around, for a lot of young people.
“But also for a community about the cultural and community memory in that building has not been taken into consideration.”
A consultation period is due to take place between now and
February 11. The school, which opened in 1953, has a capacity for around 900 students, but in October 2019, only had 437 pupils on its roll.
Back in 2013, the school was criticised by government inspectors who branded it ‘inadequate’ in a damning inspection report.
Ofsted said pupils were being ‘held back’ through poor teaching and weak leadership. Parents and local residents have criticised the move to permanently shut the school, rather than invest in improvement.
Emma Jackson wrote: “Why give up and close it when there’s not enough school places as it is? Surely it makes sense to invest in it to improve it.”
Debbie Francis said: “So sad, these children have been (some for many years) and now have to up sticks and move on, what about friendship circles? How are other schools meant to cope with extra pupils when they are already full?
“You can’t just mess with kids’ lives like this with literally no choice. Some Year 7s will have only just settled and now have to move.”
Tracey Armstrong added: “Every child deserves an education, yet here it’s been decided that the children of Wythenshawe can’t have that education at Newall Green. Shame on whoever helped this ridiculous outcome.”
Hundreds of former pupils have reacted to the news with fond memories of the school. Dawn Weatherley said: “So very sad, we had a wonderful time growing up at this school.”
Coun Bridges said Manchester council will work with parents to ensure all children have a place, should the school close. He warned the process would not be easy.
His concerns were echoed by councillor in nearby Baguley, Tracy Rawlings. She said: “Having looked at the figures myself, there’s no way we can properly fulfil that statutory duty.
“There are simply not enough places for our children to be adequately placed locally in schools. It’s not acceptable.
“From the scant info that I have I can only see this as a financial decision. I cannot possibly look at our children as numbers on a page. This is about much bigger implications for families – there are going to be cost implications for travel.
“We can’t underestimate the impact this is going to have. There’s going to be a massive impact on our community. We cannot possibly let this go. “This is a good school, not been without its challenges but up to this point all the indications locally have been that this school was working towards vast improvement. This just cannot be allowed to happen. It’s come completely out of the blue.”
A Department for Education spokesman said: “Following a continued decrease in student numbers, it has been decided that Newall Green High School will close at the end of the academic year, subject to the outcome of a listening period. Our priority is to ensure that pupils continue to receive a strong education, and the trust and local authority are working together to ensure appropriate provision has been found for students following the closure. This is not a decision that has been taken lightly.
“The department has worked closely with the Trust and local authority over a period of time to carefully consider all viable options for the future of the school.”