NEAG

[Jane Winter]

PRESS RELEASE
FEBRUARY 2007
COUNCIL BREAKS MORE PROMISES

Northumberland Education Action Group (NEAG) today deplored the fact that Northumberland County Council (NCC) has broken yet another promise in its plans to force through the changes to the education system in the county. In the current plans for Cramlington schools reorganisation children in Years 7 & 8 will not be segregated from the main part of the school as put forward in the consultations and final proposals but will have to mix with the rest of over 2000 other students up to the age of 18.

Originally parents and staff were told that Cramlington High School would consist of three separate 'learning villages' and that Years 7 & 8 students would take their breaks and meals in the Junior Learning Village, creating a smaller and more familiar environment. They would stay in their purpose-built base and teachers from across the campus would come and teach them.

The reality is that the new extension to the High School will be used by all students of all ages. This will make Cramlington one of the largest schools in the whole of England, and very prone to the many drawbacks of large schools that the County assured concerned parents would be avoided.

Chair of NEAG, Joe Ronan, said: "The transition for 11 year olds from smaller primary schools to such a huge secondary is likely to prove overwhelming for many of the children. There is no doubt that disaffection among students will rise as will other associated problems. It is definitely not in the best interests of our children or their future education. It is most definitely NOT what was promised to parents.

The consultations also stated that there would be a centre at the school fully equipped for construction, engineering, motor vehicle maintenance and hairdressing. None of these appear on the plans and NCC now describe them as "an aspiration" rather than a reality. "If students are not going to be given the facilities they were led to expect I fail to see how standards can possibly rise as promised by NCC. That could be yet another in a long line of broken promises."

It was recently discovered that the Council had 'forgotten' about a very recent extension to Stonelaw school that now occupies the space needed for the new block at Cramlington High. This has lead to further panic measures to demolish and rebuild in accord with the original timetable. The proposals being acted upon now are barely recognisable as those put before the School Organisation committee in December.

NEAG believes that the re-organisation is now in serious trouble, and needs urgent intervention to prevent permanent damage to a whole generation of Cramlington Children


For further details contact:

Chair – Joe Ronan 01434 603673
Vice chair – Fiona Wilson 01670 364464
Media – Jane Winter 01665 721616 or 07857 305066