Campaigners' show of defiance as council decides to axe school - THE FIGHT GOES ON

Written by Sean Boyle and published in Derbyshire Times on Thu 14th Dec 2006

Campaigners' show of defiance as council decides to axe school

Determined campaigners have vowed to fight on to save their village school despite education chiefs slapping a controversial closure notice on it.

Residents claim Derbyshire County Council - which made its closure decision on Tuesday - has failed to listen to 'overwhelming support' to keep Stoney Middleton School open.

Councillors say falling numbers at the 21-pupil school are resulting in a waste of taxpayers' money - with each youngster costing £5,600 per year to educate, compared with the countywide average of £2,990 - and wants them to go to Curbar Primary.

School governor Lyn Holyoake said: "The report to Derbyshire County Council cabinet was very one-sided. There was a huge response in support of the school from parents, village residents, governors and the FPTA, and the council just seems to have dismissed their concerns."

Campaigners claim the one-and-a-half mile walk along the busy A623 to Curbar Primary would place their children in danger and tear the heart out of the community.

They have vowed to fight the closure to the bitter end, saying it could spell the end for dozens of village schools across the county because of the authority's focus on 'saving money no matter what cost to communities'.

A county council spokesman said the school had places for 47 youngsters, adding: "We are currently spending significantly more money to educate fewer children at this school as pupil numbers are falling and this is taking away resources from other students.

"We do understand the emotions involved but believe this is the right thing to do in order for us to be able to offer the high quality of education that the pupils deserve."

Because of the controversy surrounding it the closure decision is now likely to go to the School Organisation Committee, which comprises county council members, church representatives and school governors.

If the committee is unable to make a unanimous decision the case will be referred to the Government's schools adjudicator to make a final ruling.

14 December 2006