Steve McCabe MP (Birmingham Selly Oak) has hit out against the Government’s decision to re-open the consultation into the closure of Baverstock Academy, despite repeated assurances that the Department for Education were looking for a sponsor to save the school.
Information emerged this morning that the Government is now planning to re-open a 4 week consultation period into closing the school.
The MP has called for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Education to demand answers about exactly what efforts have been made to save the school, how many potential sponsors were asked to look at taking over the school and exactly how much it is going to cost to close the school compared to saving it.
The secondary school in Druids Heath, Birmingham was plunged into uncertainty in June last year because of financial difficulties but Steve McCabe MP and the local community were promised by the Department for Education a sponsor would be found.
This is clearly not the case and the Education Secretary is once again looking at closure.
Steve McCabe MP said:
“This Government has completely betrayed my constituents over Baverstock Academy. I have repeatedly been told by the Department for Education that every effort was being made to secure a sponsor to take over the Baverstock but now it seems they were just biding their time to close the school regardless.
“This morning I have written to the Education Secretary to demand an urgent meeting, my constituents want answers about exactly what the government has been doing to save the school and how much it will cost to close the school rather than keep it open. It appears the Government have enough money to expand selective grammar schools but not money to save a local secondary school in Druids Heath.
“They have treated the parents, pupils and the Druids Heath community with utter disregard. It is a complete disgrace and my constituents will not forgive this betrayal.”
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