Hear All Sides: The Schools Closure Debate

Hurworth would become a foundation school serving the Sedgefield villages of Sadberge, Middleton and Hurworth communities.

Darlington could "selfishly" (as Ada Burns may put it ) create an East Darlington community school by closing down Eastbourne Comprehensive, Heathfield School, St Johns School and Dodmire School and thereby finance a much-needed new all encompassing school building with brand new facilities with the moneys raised. The new school is being called East Darlington Industrial Estate Community School. - Mark Anderson, Middleton St George

FOUNDATION STATUS

THE biggest concern to me about the academy proposal is the impact it will have on the staff, which will then have a direct impact on the students.

Three times now I have met with the LEA, and each time they have stated that they can not guarantee the jobs of any of the staff at Hurworth School.

If any of our staff leave, who will we get to fill the posts? Who will want to come and work at Hurworth School for only a couple of years?

This year the school achieved 80 per cent 5 A-C's. A school record from what has been described as our "worst year group" at the recent achievements night.

Our current year 11 set a new school record in their year 9 Sats, only to be broken by our current year 10, the following year. The potential for our next two years of GCSE students to achieve outstanding results is very real.

I fear that if staff start to leave, then the education of our students will be seriously disrupted and the potential of our current year 10 and 11 may not be realised.

The so-called and much-prized Hurworth "ethos" will be lost for ever.

A top performing school will be removed off the face of the earth by default and this will be of no benefit to improving education across the borough. The academy proposal is not in the best interest of Hurworth School and I did not want Hurworth to be part of it.

This is my view and my view only, and may not be the view of other governors. - Mike Jackson (parent governor ), c/o Hurworth School.

HURWORTH SURGERY

I WOULD like to expand on my findings when I attended this surgery in Hurworth Village Hall.

I dragged my husband with me and arranged for a babysitter as I thought it was very important to attend this surgery and of course to ask some questions about land in Hurworth. I was very disappointed that we were told to take the literature away and if we want to ask any questions, to put them in writing.

The three people who were there from Darlington Borough Council did not introduce themselves and were not prepared to discuss anything directly with me.

I came away with a lot of literature and, of course, it does not make sense to me and will probably take me a week to read to digest it.

It was very disappointing that a presentation was not given explaining everything to us and then for us to have the opportunity to ask questions.

If this is what they call consultation it was a complete waste of time, especially mine.

It would have been easier for them to send the brochure in the post to me and that way it would not have cost me money getting a babysitter.

I will, of course, be putting my questions in writing to them and I will expect answers. - Julie Jones, Hurworth.

SMALLER SCHOOLS

WHAT is wrong with the people in charge at Darlington Borough Council? Why are they so determined to close Hurworth School down?

Education is not free. Everyone pays VAT every time they step into a shop. Those in charge at Darlington Town Hall should remember that.

We need smaller secondary schools of about 600 students. Anything more will be too big. The people of Middleton, Sadberge and Hurworth do not need to have a long school run at the beginning and end of every school day.

The southern bypass is already full.

You try getting across the brick train roundabout at rush hour.

I notice the Prime Minister is avoiding Hurworth. He has visited schools in Darlington and Eaglescliffe but not in his own constituency. - Nigel Boddy, Darlington.