PARENTS, campaigners and local MPs have vowed to continue to fight Wiltshire Council’s decision to close three special schools in the area.
Last month the council confirmed that it will be closing St Nicholas School in Chippenham, Larkrise School in Trowbridge and Rowdeford near Devizes, replacing them with one new special school in Rowde, which is due to open in September 2023.
Parents and members of the ‘Keep special schools local’ campaign, which was launched last year in response to the initial proposal, have said that they will continue to fight Wiltshire Council’s decision.
Parent and campaign member Emily Wadds said, “Parents, staff, children and many Wiltshire residents are distraught that the council can ignore not only the feelings of so many people, but all the facts and evidence against the closures that we have presented to them.
“Closing Larkrise School in Trowbridge and St. Nicholas School in Chippenham, and the building of a huge super school in Rowde is wrong in so many ways. Children with special educational needs should be educated as near as possible to their homes. We need more schools, not less. We are resolved to continue our fight to keep the schools in their local communities.”
Tony Free from the group said, “The report to the cabinet did not present a true picture for them to make an informed decision. Most children will be travelling considerably further than they do now. The council’s decision flies in the face of both fairness and logic. They ignore people’s concerns, using what they declare is consultation, to tell people what they are going to do. Council leader, Baroness Scott, informed us at the cabinet meeting that the council is not going to sell the existing schools, yet the report to the council clearly shows income from the sales. This whole matter has been a catalogue of deceit.”
Jane Scrivener from the group added, “We await legal advice before we consider our next steps. We will not let the council destroy three good existing schools to replace them with one huge institution that will mean even more travelling for most of the children.
“The decision to go ahead despite so much informed opposition, not just from families but teachers, special education specialists, therapists and other professionals, has upset a lot of people. The council has taken no notice of the facts we presented to them.”
Local MP, Michelle Donelan, has also pledged her support to save the schools. She said, “I have been working with Dr Andrew Murrison MP to try to get government financial help so the council can have the option of revisiting their ‘one school plan’ – to save our special schools, St Nicholas in Chippenham and Larkrise in Trowbridge.
“Here is an update; We are in talks with Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi regarding our concerns and seeing what the government can do financially to save our schools.
“Both Andrew and I are aware that a new building is needed for St Nicholas, but we don’t subscribe to the ‘one school’ policy – especially given the added travel times which would cause added unnecessary stress to children.
“Plus the fact both Chippenham and Trowbridge are growing, meaning in the long term, the demand will only increase for special school provision in those areas.”
About the decision, Wiltshire Council’s Laura Mayes, cabinet member for children’s services said, “All pupils deserve to have access to a first-class education in a great school. We know parents want the very best for their children and we recognise that there are strong feelings in the community about this change. We want to work closely with all parents as we take these plans forward.
“We are bold and ambitious for all our children both now and for the future. This is our chance to do something transformational – to create a system of excellence that helps all our 3,500 children with special needs.”
