News

Following a public meeting and range of informal consultation with parents, schools and local people during April and May, proposals for changes to Trinidad First School and Alderney Middle School will now be subject to formal consultation.

The proposals involve the relocation of Trinidad First School from its existing outdated site to new accommodation on the Alderney Middle School site and reducing the number of excess pupil places at Alderney Middle. Whilst remaining separate schools, the plans include joining the school buildings, both of which will cater for approximately 60 pupils per age group.

Formal consultation on the proposals to provide special learning centres for Winchelsea students at separate sites has been delayed to allow more time to discuss options with parents, teachers and the local community.

Shirley Goodwin, Policy Director for Education, said: "As a result of the views and concerns expressed by parents on replacing Winchelsea School with special learning centres on other school sites, formal consultation on this area of the bid has been delayed. Instead, further discussions will be held with the school and parents to examine the initial proposals plus other options. Many parents had worries such as how the new centres would work and maintain the caring and protective environment which the children currently enjoy. This extra time will allow us to work through these concerns with them and come up with the best solution and way forward which we can use as the basis for formal consultation."

Brian Clements, Executive Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Budget & Lifelong Learning, said: "The Council has welcomed all the views expressed and local people will be involved in the on-going development of the scheme. The well-being of all our pupils and their education is our primary concern and we want to work with parents and the schools to make sure we achieve this. What we need to do now is work through the possibilities with everyone directly involved and see what options are available to provide Winchelsea children with the specialist facilities they so desperately need."

The Council is also undertaking a review of parking and traffic issues around the relevant school sites following concerns raised at the public meeting.

In addition, exciting work is continuing on plans to relocate the Rossmore Public Library on the Rossmore Community College site, the provision of new technology facilities for Rossmore Community College and broadband internet access for all the schools in the local pyramid. Work is also taking place to increase nursery provision for the area.

Formal notices on the proposals for Trinidad First and Alderney Middle Schools have been posted in local libraries and schools in the area as well as in the local press as part of the two month statutory consultation period. The closing date for responses and comments is 31 July 2002.

For the next three months parents, schools and the local community will be involved in further informal consultation to develop proposals for Winchelsea pupils. The two month statutory consultation period is due to begin in September.

Terry Finn, Project Manager, tel: (01202) 633784