Victory on Grove School

5.08.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jul 2007

At the Children's Scrutiny Committee meeting this afternoon, scrutinising the decision of the County Cabinet to have a 600 place, 11-16 school at Grove, some of the queries raised by local people were finally answered. Liberal Democrats had asked the Committee to look at the decision because the wishes of local people appeared to have been ignored, and there was confusion over when the school would be delivered and whether it would expand. They wanted the Tory administration to tell people what they really planned - an 11-16 school as clearly set out in the recommendation agreed by Cabinet, or the possibility of the school expanding and having a sixth form at a later date, as they appear to be saying now.

Zoé said "I would like to welcome the apparent commitment now for an 11-19 school in Grove, which would deliver real choice for parents and pupils. It is a shame that the Tories wished to play games with this, rather than telling everyone that this was their intention right from the start!"

It appears that the consultation on the various options was fatally flawed, since the most popular option chosen by parents and residents in the MORI type poll was never going to be delivered.

Jim said, "If the popular option for two equally sized schools was not feasible from the outset, why were people consulted on it? It also appears that some Councillors are worth more than others - the Cabinet member admitted that he had held pre-decision discussions with a few District Councillors whilst ignoring the local County Councillors. Ironically, it is the County Council not the District that is responsible for education."

Note: Only two of the District Councillors for Grove and Wantage were briefed by the County Cabinet; they are the two Conservative Councillors.

Related Link:

Read Zoé's submission to the Scrutiny Committee.