Future of Schools in Purbeck- District Council urges County
to think again
Purbeck District Council is asking Dorset
County Council to think again and improve its consultation process
to ensure that all options are fully discussed before making a
decision on the future of education provision in Purbeck.
Dorset County Council is proposing to move
away from the current 3-tier education system to a 2-tier system in
a bid to reduce surplus school places. This would see the closure
of all four middle schools in Purbeck. The District
Council refused to comment on the relative merits of either system
of education as it is not an education authority. However, it
has called upon the County to reconsider the options and ensure
that parents, teachers, governors and children have a say in
deciding which of the options should form the basis of education in
the district.
At a packed special Council Meeting, which was
called to discuss Purbeck District Council’s response to the County
Council proposals, Councillors heard that many people felt they had
not been fully consulted on all of the available options.
District Councillors drew particular attention to public feelings
about this during their debate.
The District Council will now submit its
detailed response to the consultation, which will also ask the
County Council to ensure that it takes full account of the
environmental and social implications of any proposed changes to
schools.
The current consultation period will end on 4
March 2009 and it is anticipated the County Council will consider
all of the responses during this summer.
Ends
Contact: Steve Dring,
Planning Policy Manager, Purbeck District Council.
Telephone: 01929 557339.
Links: For further information about the
current consultation, visit the consultation pages
on dorsetforyou.com.