People power SAVES FOUR Hull primary schools By Martin Deane

It's almost enough to restore your faith in democracy. Almost. Today Hull City Council cabinet (what makes the decisions..) approved the recommendations of its education officers from May 11th saving four of the nine threatened primary schools. Demonstrations today and yesterday continue to show the commitment of ordinary people across the city to keep Hull's threatened primaries.

The Council is now proposing to close FIVE schools. Yes, five. You heard it here first. (Ok, or possibly in the HDM yesterday - if you read it ...) People power has SAVED FOUR primary schools across the city. A further four schools destined to merge are now saved (two of which would have closed). These are Lambwath and Neasden, and Mountbatten and Oldfleet.

Their capacity will be reduced and the space provided for community use. This will mean the surplus disappears from the Council's calculations. In addition Lambwath is planned to have a children's centre onsite.

A very big thankyou to anybody and everybody who took the trouble to email and send letters to the Director of Education, and it's encouraging to see some creative thinking happening about alternatives. So what next? Well the schools still under threat are Newland Ave - yes, Newland Ave - despite everyone's protests, emails and petitions. The Dales, a fantastic primary on the edge of the city whose teachers bring the world into their classrooms. Coleford and Constable. One can't help feeling that the Council "TOPS" plan was to chip away at the schools, from all 77 of them, to a 21 longlist, then the shortlist - being prepared to "negotiate" downwards. But how much negotiation is happening? How real is the consultation?

So keep up the pressure! We have lost enough public services across Britain and within Hull. Let's not lose one more school. Martin J Deane Green Party, Hull You can email (politely) the Director of Education at - Helen.mcmullen@hullcc.gov.uk

Comments from the Schools:

St Charles "We see the recommendation by the cabinet as the only possible option for St Charles' School within the TOPS process. We are encouraged that the paragraph indicating a revisit to St Charles in 12 months has been deleted. Although the future is still uncertain, as we have to await a Diocesan review of all Catholic schools, it does mean that St Charles will be on an equal footing within the Catholic community of the city." Sharon Melia-Craven Head Teacher Coleford Primary "As a head I am in the difficult position of fully understanding and agreeing with the strategic decisions taken by the council today. The decisions are difficult for everyone involved but this is preferable to schools all over the city slowly moving into budget deficits and staffing reduction scenarios in an unplanned way. Perhaps decisions of this nature should have been made earlier. The fact that we are looking at a comprehensive plan to reorganise and transform primary education across the city and not just close a few schools here and there is a very positive move. None of this however removes the fact that primary schools are closing. We all value our primary schools as centres of their communities and recognise the wonderful job they do. For everyone concerned with the school notified for closure we are now talking about real human issues. People's jobs, careers and communities are involved. Hardly anyone will go untouched. I hope that everyone concerned with making the decisions today will also do everything in their power to ensure that communities, children and parents as well as staff within the school are looked after in every way. I will continue to run my school for the benefit of its pupils, parents and staff for as long as possible and am sure this will be the same in each of the schools affected. Heads and other staff within schools will continue to act in a highly professional and dignified way." Chris Holland Head Teacher Constable Primary "We're devastated, this isn't what we wanted to hear at all...There will be a meeting of the Staff and Governors to decide where we go from here" E. Chamberlain Head Teacher

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