Inclusion at centre of school schemes
PLANS for a state-of-the-art academy and special school on the same site have been unveiled to the public.
Parents, residents and staff were invited to view two sets of proposals for the James Brindley Science College site in Chell yesterday.
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VISION: A model of how the academy might look.
The event was held by Stoke-on-Trent City Council before a planning application is submitted in August as part of the Government's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
One option includes a new city academy and a new special school on the same site, which would take pupils with a wide range of special education needs.
Pupils who now go to nearby Middlehurst and Heathfield schools would be able to relocate to the academy site in around three years.
The other option is to refurbish and extend the existing Middlehurst School and just build the new academy.
BSF project director Tracy Penrose said there had been lots of enthusiasm for the new academy, but people had been expressing concern about where the special school was situated.
She said: "The schools would be able to share facilities, and it is about encouraging inclusion in the wider sense.
"Rebuilding Middlehurst School would also be more cost-effective than refurbishing it in its current location."
Headteacher Clive Rigby said there were more positives than negatives of the academy and special school being on the same site.
He said: "It is about creating an integrated society and understanding people better. However, if co-location is to be successful, there is a lot of work to be done. The great majority of local people just want us to get on with it."
Parent and school governor Jayne Francis said she was in favour of the academy and special school being on the same site.
But she said she thought the special school had been placed too close to the main school.
The 42-year-old of Crowndale Place, Packmoor, said: "There need to be clear boundaries between the two schools."
Councillor John Burgess, a governor of Middlehurst School, said he wanted the school to stay where it was. The 61-year-old of Crossfield Avenue, Blythe Bridge, said: "It is my view that bigger is not always better."
If planning permission is granted, it would be built between 2010 and 2013. Building work is expected to take 18 to 24 months.
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Comments
by Chris, Newstead
Friday, June 26 2009, 10:54PM
“.What a Joke and not even a funny one at that. INCLUSSION! what a great word it is however the people who thought inclusion meant young children with special need needed to go through mental torment on a day basic is clearly the real one who as the special needs. I have worked with children and can just about remember what it was like to be a child and without prejudiced to any child we all know we/they say cruel and hurtful things. What will the life be life for these children been in or part of a main stream school.
Some Parents fight long and hard to get their children the specialist care and education they need for these jokers come along and say what a good idea.
Do these Head Teachers really understand how intense it can be to care for a child with a disability, educational or other wise.
These Parents should make a stand and not be white washed by the utter tosh the council and Serco are trying to push on our Children.
A month or so ago I attended an EMB meeting and a parent was attending with her child from Heathfield special school due to the nature of her disability she was rocking and making noises (no disrespect the child or family) each and everyone of the EMB had a mixed look of shock, dismay and some would say discussed on their faces.
Before anyone decides to come back with a comment of 'well you don't support academies' your right I don't but there is one thing more than academies I don't like that's academies with integrated Special schools, vulnerable children placed at the heart of a text book exercise for the sake of the so called improving education (BSF).
EVERY CHILD MATTER!
OR DO THEY?
ONE TENDS TO WONDER IF THIS SHOULD REALLY SAY EVERY £ MATTERS!
I really hope that Cllr Ian Mitchell puts a stop to this in his new role”