Parents and Friends ask questions at DCC Council Meeting - 1st November 2006

12.00.00am GMT Tue 7th Nov 2006

A group of parents and friends of Stoney Middleton school attended Derbyshire Council full council meeting on Wednesday 1st November to ask questions of Councillor Alan Charles regarding the future of Stoney Middleton School.

Michael at County Hall

Michael Miller asked about the relative costs of each student at Stoney Middleton (£5,678) compared to Curbar, Eyam and Grindleford schools. These ranged from £3554 at Curbar to £3476 at Eyam. All these are well in excess of the county average of £2640 but well below the highest school in Derbyshire - £6261.

Marija speaks up!

Marija Nicholson, a single working parent and prospective governor, queried the definition of small schools in the light of the DCC statement in the Schools Organisation Plan that "the Authority has committed itself to supporting small primary schools, unless school governors themselves take the view that a small school is no longer viable."

Councillor Charles confirmed his previous statement in an email to Mrs Dulcie Jones that this commitment only extended to schools serving "isolated" village communities, and that Stoney Middleton was not isolated because there was an alternative school within 2 miles. (Note - this definition of isolation does not appear in the School Organisation Plan).

Marija continued to ask about the future of other small Derbyshire Schools including Crich Carr Infant, Buxworth, Westhouses Primary, Wessington Primary, Apperknowle Community Primary, Litton Primary, Elton Primary and Biggin Primary.

The Stoney Middleton contingent remained to listen to comments on minutes of the Cabinet Meeting on October 17th which had approved the decision to recommend consultation on the closure of Stoney Middleton School. Cllrs Barrie Taylor, Steve Flitter and David Stone spoke in support of the retention of Stoney Middleton School in the absence of Cllr Nigel Allwood, County Councillor for Stoney Middleton. Although these councillors mentioned that they had received emails and had discussions with Stoney Middleton residents to our surprise they made no mention of the 150 letters which had been hand delivered the previous Monday. Where were these letters?

Related Links:

Michael Miller's Question.

Marija's Question.

DCC School Organisation Plan.