The Head Girl, Debra DePaula and Head Boy, Enock Duah, from Baverstock School took a trip to the Council House on Tuesday 13 September to gather support from city councillorsand put a question direct to Cllr Brigid Jones, Cabinet member for Children’s Services, at the Full Council Meeting. Cllr Jones told the meeting of the Full Council that she was behind Baverstock School, she told the meeting that there would be an increase in demand for school places over the coming years and it didn’t make sense to close the school.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Carl Rice, and Cllr John Clancy, Leader of Birmingham City Council, joined the students to show their support along with many councillors from across the city.
In June this year Baverstock’s future was plunged into uncertainty when it was threatened with closure following the decision from the Education Funding Agency to no longer fund the school because of the state of the school’s finances.
A consultation on the closure was meant to begin this September but following a meeting between the local MP Steve McCabe and Schools Minister Nick Gibb and the hard work by parents and local residents, the consultation has been paused and the Regional Schools Commission are now trying to identify a new sponsor for the School.
Cllr Eva Phillips (Brandwood) said:
“It was great to see so many of my colleagues pledge their support for Baverstock School. We need to show a united front and show the Government we are all behind Baverstock and we won’t let them close our School.”
Local MP, Steve McCabe MP, said:
“At a time when the government is talking about opening new grammar schools it makes no sense at all to spend millions of pounds closing an existing school when we know the demand for secondary school places in the area is increasing.
“I am now calling on the Secretary of State for Education to give her commitment to the school and rule out any closure plan.”
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