Gedling School could close in 2012
GEDLING School could be closed within the next two years, Notts County Council has revealed today.
John Slater, service director at the council, said: "Nottinghamshire County Council has been reviewing the significant number of spare pupil places within the District of Gedling.
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"The officer group undertaking the review is recommending to the cabinet of the council that a formal consultation should be set up to consider the phased closure of the Gedling School from August 2012."
He said a decision on whether to proceed to a formal consultation is most likely to be taken at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for December this year.
If this happens a period of formal consultation with parents and other Gedling schools will begin in the New Year.
Mr Slater said: "Parents are being informed of the proposals and the council will be consulting with them over the plans.
"This is the beginning of this process and we are committed to seeking the views of, and communicating with, parents throughout the entire process."
The announcement follows increasing speculation about the future of the school.
Parents this morning received a text message from the school which said: "Please note an important letter will be sent home with your child today."
A Facebook group has already been set up by worried parents called 'Stop the Closure of Gedling School'.
Louisa Damar, of Carlton, said she has phoned the school since receiving the text message and has been told a meeting over the school's future will take place on December 15.
Ms Damar has one child at the school and a second who has applied to go there from September next year.
She said: "If it is going to close, then I'm disgusted.
"They have made no effort to curtail the rumours or to reassure people.
"We have a school of nearly 700 kids; where are they supposed to go?"
Another parent, Janet Price, of Carlton, said her son started at the school in September.
She said: "I am mortified. I went to that school and I loved it there.
"My son was so excited about getting in there and he's made so many new friends already. They are all going to be separated."
The school closed for one day last month after teachers went on strike over the school's management.
Sixteen staff who are members of the National Union of Teachers (NUT) downed tools over what they claim is a lack of support from management both in and out of the classroom.
A further day of strike action is planned on November 11.
5 Comments
by gedling student, carlton
Thursday, November 04 2010, 7:38AM
“i think none of you have thought of the effect its going to have, i moved to the school half way through year 10 from a managed move from carlton le willows, which is highly praised and wrongly praised, at gedling each pupil is taken as a person not just another little minion. secondry school isnt just about gaining results its about growing up and getting ready for life as an adult, and gedling have changed me arround dramatically, without gedling id be no where, i was left by carlton le willows with litterly nothing, they practically tried to ruin my future, even though im predicted and A in maths which i already have, and A's in many other subjects. you also have to think of the staff at the school, some which have worked there for 31 years such as mr chambers, who is a great teacher, will never be able to get a job after the closure, think about these things before making bad remarks about the school because it really isnt the bad school that you hear about.”
by Gedling School ex parent, Gedling
Thursday, November 04 2010, 12:19AM
“As a parent of Children who attended this school, I say bring the closure on. The school lost its way years ago as shown by the woeful and declining league points. It is now one of the worst schools in the county and there is no excuse. Carlton Le Willows nearby has a similar intake and achieves really good results. Likewise Frank Weldon which on its demographics should be in a worse state has turned itself around and is making really good progress.
There really is something rotten in the ethos of this school and there can be no doubt that they are failing their pupils.
Thank goodness my kids recognised what abysmal teaching there was there and studied independently to achieve good results.”
by David, Notts
Wednesday, November 03 2010, 8:12PM
“We have a bit of an immigrant fuelled baby boom going on at the moment. We're going to need all the schools we can get in a decade or so. Mark my words.”
by janet, carlton
Wednesday, November 03 2010, 4:02PM
“please support our campaign to keep gedling open, all parents of children who go there, parents who went there themselves, friends and family members who went there or know people who go there, please sign our petition to keep it open Janet Cena Price
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/keepgedlingschoolopen”
by m, gedling
Wednesday, November 03 2010, 3:33PM
“if it closes could the council please remove all the speed humps,”