Save Our School - clear message at Pott Row
SAVE our school was the clear message from a concerned community at a meeting this week about the future of Pott Row First School.
The public discussion, which took place on Tuesday at the school, was organised by Norfolk County Council as part of the ongoing consultation for the reorganisation of schools around Grimston.
If the controversial proposal is passed Pott Row First School, Church Hill First School and Grimston Junior School would be closed and replaced by an allthrough primary school for five to 11-year-olds, on the Grimston Junior School site, in Vong Lane.
Judith Simmonds, a teacher at Pott Row First School, said during the debate: "We have worked hard to provide excellent early years provision. We have got everything we need. We are doing it very
well and you are proposing to close us. I find it terrible."
Parent Sandra Balmforth added: "You are asking us to make a leap of faith. If Ofsted recognise we are a good school and the parents and children are happy why do you want to close it?".
Tim Newton, from the council's children's services, admitted the proposal was "a risk" and said the council was not against Pott Row First School. "We want to extend it and make its benefits more
available. It will be better for the children of this community," he added.
The council's consultation report said pupils in the county who learn the whole of Key Stage 2 at all-through primaries perform better in national tests compared to children who move from first schools to junior schools. Currently the first schools teach four to eight-year-olds and Grimston Junior school has eight to 11-year-olds.
Mr Newton said: "We are not successful enough in this cluster for children in primary school." He added there were also concerns it was harder to recruit teachers to smaller schools.
But a worried parent thought the debate over Key Stage 2 was "folly",
and the main issue was about "parental choice". She added: "Pott Row school is very unique. It is much nicer for them to come to a school with 50 children. It is very frightening for them to go to one
with 120."
Support for the school to remain open also came from local MP Henry Bellingham, and borough Mayor, Michael Pitcher, although neither could attend.
When votes were cast there was unanimous opposition to the creation of a
new primary school and the majority of people voted in favour of Pott Row First School receiving infant school status - meaning only four to seven-year-olds would attend and then move to Grimston Junior for the start of Key Stage 2.
Peter Blamforth-Lambert, vice chair of governors, said: "Pott Row is not a failing school, it is a thriving one and therefore it is our preferred option to be an infant school instead of it closing down."
After the meeting Jenny Jefferson, head teacher of Pott Row First School, told the Lynn News: "I was very pleased
with the support that we got."
The consultation finishes on March 12 and the final decision will be made by independent body, the Schools Adjudicator.
Reorganisation would start in September 2011 if the proposal is passed.
To comment on the plans visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/schoolorganisation
More public meetings will be held on this issue on Monday, at Grimston Junior School, from 5pm, and Tuesday, March 2, at Church Hill First School, from 6pm.
The Lynn News would like to apologise for reporting in the article "Village schools in fight for survival", on Friday,
January 29, that Ashwicken First School and Gayton First School would close if the Norfolk County Council proposal to create three new all-through primary schools in the Grimston area is passed.
Ashwicken First School and Gayton First School would remain open but
extend their age range to include five to 11-year-olds.
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Sunday 27 May 2012
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