Consultation response

Mr Duxbury

We are committed to the regeneration of this village and very much against the planned closure of the school for the following reasons:

• The school caters for local children who want to go to a local school.
• Many of the children at the school have specifically chosen a small school, because their needs are better met in this environment.
• In a small school, the pupils feel the teachers and other staff know them much better, and can enable them to achieve their best because of this. This is particularly relevant when children have special educational needs (SEN). Some children need this environment to thrive, grow, bond and succeed. There is plenty of evidence to support this. Small schools
• Socially, a small school caters much better for their needs. Should they be forced to attend a larger school, many could face serious bullying, with plenty of evidence to support this. This is already a serious problem at other schools.
• Billinghay is an expanding village with a number of new housing developments. It seems very short sighted to close a secondary school, when the population of children is growing (Billinghay already has a large number of children of all ages). The answer is not to expand the big schools into even bigger schools, but to build up the smaller schools, without losing their small school ethos. Every school must be supported to become an excellent school and have proper investment.
• There appears to be a lot of empire-building in the education system at the moment, sanctioned by Lincolnshire County Council. Following the partnership process the Lafford has been squeezed dry, and has been the main loser in this process. For fours schools to have one head is a ludicrous idea. The job of a head teacher is made to appear easy, discrediting the profession.
• It is very disingenuous for council officers, and councillors to then pass the buck onto the residents of Billinghay, and urge them to send their children to the Lafford to keep it open. Parents are not stupid, and if they see a school being run down over a period of years, they will not choose to send their children there. There has been no proper publicity for the school.
• The school is a big focus of attention for the community. In a village where shops, pubs and other facilities have closed, the closure of a school is a major blow. If it is the Lafford closing today, which schools will be next?
• We already have major concerns over the amount of money spent on transport for school children in Lincolnshire, and how much this affects the other services the council is able to provide (or not). The bussing of another 250 plus children out of the village will just increase this further (estimated at approximately £1500 pa per child). Environmentally, this is also disastrous. The environmental footprint of Lincolnshire children criss-crossing the county in the name of ‘choice’ is phenomenal. Are you, as Director of Children's Services, willing to take accountability for this?
• Where are the pupils going to go? Currently, the other schools in the area do not have enough places for them. No wonder there is a panic among parents and children. Some are transferring pupils out as quick as possible, or putting their houses on the market. There will be a knock on effect on the primary schools in the area as people move away.
• The Lafford High School has actually had a 43.5% increase in pupil numbers from 2002 to 2008, according to council statistics. What then is the reason for closing the school? It doesn’t look like falling rolls. Is it more to do with other schools trying to secure their futures? What kind of a way is this to run an education system? What professional educational experience do you have? A county councillor with a very poor bedside manner managed to offend the teaching profession on her radio interview. Who is in control of education in Lincolnshire? We moved to Lincolnshire from Birmingham where education was managed by Professor Tim Brighouse, a well respected and fine example to all the profession. Can we say the same for Lincolnshire?
• We are concerned that Billinghay is seen as a soft target for a school closure. It is a deprived area, and it looks like it has been deliberately targeted as a place that wouldn’t fight back.
• One of our own biggest concerns is that the council will close the school and then see the site as a great asset for selling off. If the use of the site has to change, why not think creatively and maintain some educational use of the site for local children and people. It is a valuable local resource, not a prime site for housing! Additionally, the location of the school provides a site for use in serious emergencies, like flooding or similar.
• We already have 69 names on the Petition to the Prime Minister
• Additional petitions have been handed in to our MP Douglas Hogg
• We care about the village, the people, the children, the environment. Every Child and Every Citizen matters!