EXCELLENT JOB: THE campaign in Darlington, led by Share (The Save Hurworth School Group), did an excellent job in highlighting several issues of concern affecting the lives of Darlington Borough Council ratepayers.
The council leader John Williams can pour as much scorn as he likes on this demonstration, but it is nothing compared to the contempt that is felt for this council's current town and country planning issues and their complete indifference to the wishes of most people.
Our own group Rage (Residents against Greenfield Eradication), whilst certainly not against the expansion of Durham Tees Valley Airport, is most definitely against the development of a business park on green- field land, when the airport already has over 850 acres of brownfield land at its disposal (with planning permission).
We have a right to ask the council to insist that an alternative plan to this greenfield development is submitted. - J Cooper, for Rage.
NO ANSWERS
IT was with some amusement and no surprise that I found myself deselected by the Darlington LEA as an LEA governor for Hurworth, considering the challenge I have put into discussions around the proposed merger of Hurworth and Eastbourne schools.
I believe this is yet another step in the council and LEA's desire to stifle robust debate and discussion around the merger and suppress information.
What are the alternatives to the Cummins site for the new build? No answer.
Where is the evidence that 1,200 is the optimal size school for the delivery of first class education? No answer.
Where is the evidence that merging a successful school with a less successful school leads to successful educational outcomes? No answer, until finally I was told that it was all about the successful implementation of change management.
These people are playing with the future education of the children from both schools.
For this woeful LEA and council, which consistently in the past and present shows a distinct lack of strategic direction, leadership and thinking, I have nothing but contempt. - Chris Aston, Hurworth.
THREE ISSUES
IN this emerging world of double-speak and spin it is sometimes difficult to recognise the truth. There are three issues in your article "Leaked report reveals early fears over future of schools" (Echo, Oct 20) that illustrate this.
In particular the quotes from the LEA spokesman that should be considered in a little more detail.
Firstly, the LEA says that "of course" they would be concerned about Hurworth going as a foundation school because they want to have all "schools working together".
Yet they are in raptures about being able to express an interest in establishing a City Academy, that would operate totally outside their control, under private control and not in the interests of the community they serve.
Share (The Save Hurworth School Group), has developed model proposals under which Hurworth would operate within a commissioning framework managed by the LEA as an equal partner, achieving the best opportunity for the pupils of Hurworth and throughout the town.
Secondly, the LEA spokesman says that the future is now secure for "all secondary schools until at least 2010/11".
Remembering that the town has seven secondary schools now, all seven are safe until January 1 2012. It follows that no City Academy will replace any school in 2008, 2009, 2010 or 2011.
Lastly, the LEA spokesman reports that, as a foundation, Hurworth would have the same inadequate buildings. Even the LEA now accepts that a 900/1,000-place school can be built on the current site at Hurworth. Funding for this could come through a number of sources.
The LEA must now start to be honest with the town and recognise that the partnership that is essential to good governance. A partnership where one party gets its own way is neither healthy or indicative of good governance. - Martin Phillips, Darlington.
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