Town council objects to Hartford High's change of status (From Northwich Guardian)

Town council objects to Hartford High's change of status

4:00pm Tuesday 13th December 2011 in News

NORTHWICH Town Council has objected to plans to change the status of Hartford High School.

The secondary school, on Chester Road, hopes to secure a formal link with the Church of England next year.

Councillors had previously requested an extension to the consultation period which has seen the school talk to parents, students, primary schools and churches about the change.

But Clr Derek Bowden told members at its December meeting he had been informed that an extension was not likely to happen and although school staff had been helpful in addressing his queries, he objected to the proposals.

Clr Bowden said there was an ‘evident lack of understanding’ among residents about the plans and said he was amazed by the number of people who ‘simply didn’t know what was happening’.

“I have had to clarify my own thinking and response to the many discussions I have had in the community and I object to the proposals,” he added.

“This is the first time I have written in objection to the proposals because I wanted to find out more.”

Clr Boden details his concerns about the plans in a letter which urged the executive and council to reject the ‘ill-advised’ proposal and asked the school governors to reconsider options for change.

The letter challenged the notion that the proposal would provide a greater choice for parents, stating the wishes of a particular group would instead be imposed on the community and argued there was a ‘serious problem’ if the school could only provide the highest quality education with a change of status.

He also noted that only seven per cent of parents had voiced their support for the change of status and questioned whether the change was as ‘rare and exciting’ as the school stated.

The letter added: “The change is not in the wishes or interests of children, parents or the broad community the school serves.

“As more people in the area become aware of what is happening, the concern grows.”

Clr Paul Dolan added: “I have no confidence in the consultation and no confidence that the changes are fully understood and fully supported on the basis of the information received.

“There are a number of residents who have said they are not aware of these proposals.”

He added: “It is a duty on the proposer to make sure everybody has been kept fully aware of it.

“I do feel at this moment in time I just cannot support these proposals on the basis of the information I have got.”

Clr George Miller said that he did not support Clr Bowden’s views.

“If the community do not engage, it is not the school’s problem,” he said.

“The school looks as though it has done everything in its power.”

Councillors resolved to accept Clr Boden’s views as the views of the council, following a vote.

Share your views at northwichguardian.co.uk.

BREAKOUT ONE Resident Barbara Keelty voiced her concerns about the consultation process and said: “The consultation documents give a very positive spin on the benefits of changing to become a Church of England high school without providing the opportunity for parents to hear the impact of such a change.

“I have personal experience of such an event – I know the admission policy will change, I know the curriculum will change.”

BREAKOUT TWO Morris McBride, community governor at Hartford High School, quizzed the council asking why an extension to the consultation period was necessary.

He said that once the decision was made to adopt Church of England status, consultation was undertaken with school staff, all the families of children at the school and its partner primary schools in addition to three consultation meetings and an open evening.

“Overall we think we have consulted with more than 3,000 families in the Hartford area,” he said.

“Why does the council feel the consultation needs to be extended?”