Top Valley head teacher desperate to have school rebuilt
MANY buildings at Top Valley School and Engineering College date back to the 1960s.
They were just what was needed in the days of blackboards and purely class-based lessons.
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Top Valley School head teacher Peter Brown
But this is no longer the case as ICT becomes more important and students are taught through more practical methods.
That is why head teacher Peter Brown is hoping his school can get a share of £33m to rebuild the school.
The city council will tomorrow launch a bid to overturn a Government decision to axe funding for new school buildings.
It will be joined by other local authorities – Luton Borough, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, Kent County and Waltham Forest Borough councils – in the High Court for a judicial review over the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) scheme.
Mr Brown believes that his school badly needs to be rebuilt to allow pupils to reach their potential.
He said: "Part of the school is 45 years old.
"Only recently we had an emergency plumber, as the boiler seized up. We don't want to operate like this.
"The building is not as inspiring as it could be. A new building will help show pupils their education is important and people care.
"We hope that good sense will prevail. We are preparing our youngsters for the 21st century, so we need adequate accommodation for this.
"We appreciate the financial circumstances but we feel it is unfair that the pupils see other schools with new buildings when we haven't got one."
A number of city schools and academies were rebuilt during the first phase of BSF under the old Labour government.
Among them were Bulwell Academy, Nottingham University Samworth Academy and Hadden Park School.
Last year, the city council earned national recognition for its rebuilding programme.
Top Valley was due to be rebuilt under the second phase, along with others, including Trinity School.
But the coalition government scrapped BSF funding in July last year.
"We had been planning for the new school and I had gone as far as speaking with architects about it," said Mr Brown.
"We worked closely with students, parents and the community, so to have our hopes dashed was very disappointing."
The hearing begins today but it will be tomorrow before the court starts to hear evidence. The case is expected to last all week.
The city council is leading the action and hopes it will result in the Government being asked to reconsider its decision. More importantly, it hopes to get £33m to rebuild Top Valley and Trinity schools.
The council had spent £685,000 on preparation before Government cash was axed.
Councillor David Mellen, portfolio holder for children's services, said that if the decision was not reversed, there would be a two-tier education system in the city.
He added: "Pupils at Trinity School, in Aspley, can see pupils from Hadden Park in a beautiful new building, and they are just down the road from Nottingham University Samworth Academy.
"It is very important for us that we can get this money to rebuild these schools like the other ones have been.
"The rebuild of the others has been very successful, and it would be a tremendous boost to education in the city if we can win this case."
6 Comments
by Karl, Nottingham
Monday, January 24 2011, 6:06PM
“So what makes this school so special? Most schools in Nottingham need desperate repairs but they don't get it. Our kids school needs some desperate attention! They also need ramps installing for a couple of disabled children attending but don't even have the recources for that and the local authority won't pay. Yet you don't see them banging on in here about it do you like every other head teacher. YOU ARE NOT ON YOUR OWN MR BROWN, so stop your crying to the local rag like you're the only hard done to school in Nottingham!”
by Mr. Sensible, The Real World
Monday, January 24 2011, 6:04PM
“This is the type of project that can actually stimulate the local economy.
This cut was botched by the government, 1 of several that the education department has made under this government.”
by m, gedling
Monday, January 24 2011, 2:44PM
“just send the kids home with begging letters, a new structure could be built and paid for in no time”
by Earl Manvers, Nottingham
Monday, January 24 2011, 1:56PM
“A small fraction of the required money could be used to send Jan somewhere a very, very long way from here.”
by TVS Parent, Nottingham
Monday, January 24 2011, 12:15PM
“What a narrow minded view, the school has had some of the best results over the past few years and is still improving, but really this story isn't about that. TVS needs new buildings, 1960s buildings weren't built as well as mediaeval buildings were constructed , Big Wood which was substantially younger has been flattened and re-built so why not TVS? Good luck Mr Brown”
by Jan, Nottingham
Monday, January 24 2011, 11:17AM
“The head should be more " desperate" about the poor results his school achieves, managing to get only 32% of its pupils through the standard 5 GCSE's ( 1% only would qualify for the English Bac). By contrast, Becket gets 72% and 50%, though it has numerous pupils for whom English is a second language and more than the national average on free school meals.
Funny how failing comps always need megabucks for new glass and steel structures while the great public schools (and many Oxbridge colleges) remain world-class despite their old. sometimes mediaeval, buildings. Contrast Djanogly, where millions have been squandered on buildings, which gets 36% of its pupils through the standard 5 GCSEs (2% would be awarded the English Bac).”