Questions were previously raised about the Schools finances which resulted in an Interim Board being established to try and stabilise the situation but at a surprise meeting just a few weeks ago officials from the Education Funding Agency announced that they were no longer prepared to support the school, leaving the Interim Board in an impossible situation. The original trustees from LEAP have now met and asked the Regional Commissioner for Schools to activate a closure plan. There is to be a consultation over any closure which is likely to start in September.
But the local MP has vowed to do all he can to save the school and demanded that the full facts about the schools finances and the role of the Education Funding Agency and the Regional Schools Commissioner be given to him. He is working with a committee of parents which has been established to Save Baverstock.
Steve McCabe MP said:
“I was encouraged by my meeting with the Minister. It’s clearly not government policy to close schools but to rescue failing academies. This school has a great history and its true its fallen on hard times both academically and financially but that’s not the fault of the parents or the pupils who attend Baverstock. That’s entirely down to bad management and lack of supervision from the EFA and the Regional Schools Commissioner. I am absolutely clear that no one is going to close this school without a fight and I hope the Minister’s message is clear that it’s the role of people like the Regional Schools Commissioner and the EFA to help sort out these schools not close them. In economic terms alone, closing Baverstock will see a huge financial loss to the taxpayer and a shortage of secondary places for children in this area in no time at all.
“I am exploring all possibilities that could save the school and I am clear that we won’t be going quietly. No one will find it easy to just slip this under the rug.”
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