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Closure is about politics

From the Halesowen News, first published Friday 24th Nov 2006.

It is interesting to note the contrasting fortunes of Halesowen C of E and Cradley High.

First off the council trumpets that is going to merge Halesowen and Hasbury C of E in a brand new multi-million pound school without first bothering to check if Government funding is available, overlooking the fact that a public right of way runs through the proposed site. Then it blames the New Labour Government for failing to fund the Tory council's scheme and claims it's left no alternative but to close Halesowen C of E. We then discover the school will not close because the diocese will not support any move that leaves fewer than 420 C of E primary places in Halesowen (something the Tory council must have known from day one).

Cradley High meanwhile is excluded from the schools review and earmarked for closure despite having some of the best results in the borough and despite the fact the nearest alternative schools are full. The consultation is timed to coincide with the summer break to minimise public opposition and pushed through regardless of a parent's petition listing 260 parents willing to send their children there, a petition which is subsequently attacked by neighbouring Tory councillors.

Councillor Bob James comments on Halesowen C of E: "The school has been let down dreadfully in recent years, and parents were put off sending their children their because of uncertainties" applies equally to both schools, the only difference being one is in a ward that returned three Tory councillors and the other three Labour councillors.

Richard P A Alonzo, Dudley Respect,Halesowen

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