How the academy plans unfolded
November 2007:
Plans are revealed to build an academy in Park Hall, on a site near the junction of Dividy Road and Anchor Road. It would replace four existing schools – Edensor Technology College, Longton High, Mitchell Business and Enterprise College, and Berry Hill High.
February 2008:
The Sentinel reports how Edensor Technology College could be used as the predecessor school for the new academy, with staff and pupils automatically transferring to the new site when it is built. The other three affected schools would close completely. The academy would open in 2011.
April 2008:
Campaigners set up a community action group to fight for a merger between Berry Hill High and Mitchell, instead of sending their pupils to the new academy.
November 2008:
It emerges plans to build the academy at Park Hall could be delayed because it would involve building on green belt land, which would need the Environment Secretary's approval.
Education leaders admit they don't know how much it would cost to redevelop this site, which would include decommissioning a gasometer.
The council also reveals it has rejected seven other possible sites for the academy, including Springfield, off Anchor Road, Adderley Green. Park Hall remains the preferred site, with Willfield as a fall-back.
December 2008:
The proposed sponsor for the Park Hall academy is named as Stoke-on-Trent College. There will now be two predecessor schools for this academy – Edensor and Mitchell.
Berry Hill would feed into a different academy planned for Fenton. Meanwhile, Longton High would close and its site become the responsibility of Sandon Business and Enterprise College, in Meir.
June 2009:
The council says is it likely to drop the Park Hall site, in favour of building the academy at Springfield. It goes out to public consultation before submitting a planning application.
July 2009:
Residents stage a protest walk from Mitchell to Park Hall in protest at the academy plans.
August 2009:
Families in Adderley Green set up the Springfield Action Group to stop the academy being built on community open space.
They stage a protest march, dressed as characters from TV series The Simpsons, which is set in the fictional town of Springfield.
The planning application for the academy is submitted.
October 2009:
Springfield Action Group submits a 508-name petition, urging the council to look at an alternative site off Mossfield Road, Adderley Green.
December 2009:
The council's development management committee defy officers' recommendations and throw out the planning application for the academy.
2 Comments
by Nicky, Community Schools Action Group
Saturday, December 12 2009, 10:35PM
“This is a good summary from the Sentinel of how things unfolded.
It is suspicious how after Stoke-on-Trent College are named as sponsor and council finally see the problems with using Park Hall, that instead of using their own backup - Willfield - Adderley Green suddenly becomes feasible.
The Mitchell site was never very properly considered and should have been.
It does raise the question, has the sponsor got some kind of problem with having an academy in Bentilee or Townsend? If so, how about having a new school rather than an academy?
And choice of sponsor hardly negates the feasibility problems with Adderley Green; flood drainage, contaminated land, undulating land, poor access, safety and inconsistency with the council's own green space plan to keep this site as green community space.”
by craig lees, ADDERLEY GREEN
Friday, December 11 2009, 12:43PM
“Nov 08 Springfield rejected then JUNE 09 they say springfield goes from rejected to top. WHY. They then lose the planning application and they still try to waste money on trying to get the academy here. This council is a farce”