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Schools merger: parents plan legal action
Angry parents have called for a judicial review to halt the merger of Wisewood and Myer's Grove Schools.
The move comes after Sheffield Council controversially made a u-turn and approved the scheme yesterday.
Members of Save Our Community Schools (SOCS), made up of parents from Wisewood and its feeder schools believe there were flaws in the consultation process and are concerned council officers may have broken the rules by failing to examine other options.
But Myers Grove parents were delighted by yesterday's full council decision which was taken by 43 votes to 40.
It is a reversal of a vote taken a month and a half ago in which Liberal Democrats, Greens and independent councillor Martin Davis outvoted Labour and lone Conservative Anne Smith through Lib-Dem mayor Arthur Dunworth's casting vote.
Education officers were asked to look at ways of keeping both schools open but returned saying saving Wisewood was not financially viable due to a predicted fall in pupil numbers.
Father-of two Darren Webb, whose children would have go to Wisewood but will now go to the 20m new school set to open on the Myers site in Stannington in 2011, slammed the decision saying the Wisewood parents felt cheated.
But jubilant Sue Stephens, of the Myers Grove Parents' Action Group, said she was ecstatic.
"I hope it won't be a problem for the parents from both schools to unite as we both have very strong views. I hope we'll all be adult enough to move forward."
Council decision, click here.
FOR all the protests by parents, dozens of public meetings, and speeches in the council chamber, three factors decided the future of Wisewood and Myers Grove schools:
The U-turn of Coun Martin Davis
Coun Anne Smith feeling so strongly about the issue she flew back from a cruise at her own expense just to attend yesterday's vote
The absence of Lib Dem Beauchief Coun Tony Holmes, who had to undergo an operation in hospital, which reduced the Lib Dems' number of votes.
Coun Davis previously opposed the merger because he wanted council officers to look at all alternatives, and because he believed in smaller, well-resourced, schools. But he decided to back the merger after the Government told Sheffield Council there was no viable financial alternative.
Coun Smith, who was on a cruise in the Mediterranean, flew back from Rome especially for the vote, returning to Sheffield at 1am yesterday. She had to get up again at 3am today to catch another flight to rejoin the ship at Nice.
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Click here for You The Jury to read our panel's verdict on the merger.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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