Shocked, our school to close and merge..........

[triplets]

This has been rumoured for a few years, but now it seems it is going to happen. In Deal where I live we have two secondary schools. Both have had a drop in intake over the last couple of years. The other school is an Academy, we are not. It seems that an obsene amount of money has been given to them to build a "super" school by 2014 on their site. Our school will close, over 70% of our teachers will be made redundant. This means the people of Deal will have no choice as to where to send their child unless they get a grammar school place out of the town. My immediate concern is that my three are in Yr 10, embarking on gcses. The two boys are doing a gcse in Maritime Studies, a new subject..........a new Maritime Studies Centre was only opened at the school 2 weeks ago by Princess Anne. I dont suppose she was told at the time that it will be gone in less than a year? The transition begins next Sept, already moral is low and teachers are looking elsewhere, who can blame them? I am so worried as to how this disruption is going to affect my children just as they begin their gcse`s, teachers will flee the sinking ship, is it to be supply supply supply teachers? What can we the parents do?

[ChazsBrilliantAttitude]

Is this the consultation?
consultations.kent.gov.uk/consult.ti/WalmerandCastle/consultationHome

The consultation is open until 15th Nov so why don't you submit your question about Maritime Studies directly the consultation so they council know its an issue.

[TalkinPeace2]

I used to live in Deal.
This is one of those CLASSIC short sighted decisions that KCC excels at.
The population is dropping temporarily because Pfizer has downsized.
Same as it did after the customs clearance business ended at the docks
and it did after the mines shut
and each time it bounced back in between.

[triplets]

There have been two meetings, one at our school on Weds the other at Castle on Thurs. The principal of Castle has already been made principal of Walmer! Of course our parents are against it, and I hear that approx 50-60% of parents from Castle are against it. The local people are against it, we have a lot of local support, but ....................we just know the deal is done and they are just going through the motions. I emailed our head last night but have had no reply as yet. They say the final decision is next March, so why are the teachers already leaving? TalkinPeace 2 did you live here a long time, might know you! Thank you for brining up Pfizer I had completely forgotten about that, of course we have lost lots of families.

[TalkinPeace2]

triplets
I only lived in East Kent for a couple of years, back in the 1980's :-)

DO NOT let go of this one - Kent's population will bounce back and they will need those school places again....

[triplets]

intrigued with your MN name, we have something in common! I had a reply to my email to the head today, she said that several parents had asked for a meeting, no reason why not, and she offered us the school hall. She also said though that no SLT would attend and she was sure I`d understand, need to google it!

[TalkinPeace2]

I've been Talk In Peace - otherwise known as TiP on ebay for years and years, then on ebid, tazbar, moneysavingexpert, UKBF, you name it. The MN TiP account went haywire hence the 2 on the end.

Good luck with your meetings - get the press on board - its about having faith in the future of an area.

[triplets]

ah........my surname is Peace!