Information on Loughborough

Have your say on the future of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

Posted on 06/06/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council

5 June 2009

Have your say on the future of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow

The County Council will begin a major consultation exercise next week to seek views on how around £80 million of Government Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding could be used to transform secondary education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow.

The consultation will involve the distribution of almost 15,000 booklets to schools, parents, carers and others with an interest in schools in the area.

As yet the Government has not allocated the funding or indicated exactly when this might happen.  However, they have said that the County Council needs to have a clear vision and be able to demonstrate that it has captured the views of the public within the area.

If the funding was approved it would present a fantastic opportunity to re-build or refurbish schools – providing the latest state-of-the-art facilities, ICT and technology to support learning for this and future generations.  

The Government has made clear that the BSF money, however, cannot simply be used to replace what already exists – it must be shown how it will be used to boost standards of education and improve pupils’ performance.

As yet the solution for schools in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow is still a blank page.  That is why it is important for local people to give their views on the current schools’ system and how education in the area could be transformed for the benefit of learners.

The consultation will run from June 8th – July 20th.  To support this, a series of public meetings will be held in schools where local people can find out more about BSF, its opportunities and challenges.

Meetings will be held at the following venues on the dates/times stated:

Monday, 15th June  Humphrey Perkins High School Main Hall, Barrow upon Soar at 6.30pm

Tuesday, 16th June  Burleigh Community College Main Hall, Loughborough at 6.30pm

Wednesday, 17th June   Garendon High School Main Hall, Loughborough at 6.30pm

Thursday, 18th June   Woodbrook Vale High School Drama Studio, Loughborough at 6.30pm

Monday, 22nd June  Limehurst High School Main Hall, Loughborough  (There will be two meetings at 5pm and at 6.30pm.  Language interpretation support will be available at the 5pm meeting)

Tuesday, 23rd June  Rawlins Community College Main Hall, Quorn at 6.30pm

Wednesday, 24th June   De Lisle Catholic Science College Main Hall, Loughborough at 6.30pm

Thursday, 25th June   Ashmount School Main Hall, Loughborough at 6pm

Gareth Williams, Director of the County Council’s Children and Young People’s Service, said: “BSF funding provides a unique opportunity to transform secondary and special education in the area, improve pupils’ achievement, provide 21st century facilities in our schools and develop wider community benefits.

“Before any decisions are taken, or promises are made, we need to hear what people think.  Everyone’s views matter and no decisions will be made until all responses have been carefully considered.”

All views and opinions will be taken into account so that the County Council’s Cabinet can decide on a preferred solution for the organisation of secondary and special schools in the area and how best to use BSF funding to achieve this.  Once this has been agreed local people will be consulted again by the County Council on the proposed solution before seeking Government approval to proceed.

Notes to editors:

The following schools within the area would form a key priority for the BSF programme:

Burleigh Community College, Loughborough ages 14-19

The Garendon High School, Loughborough ages 11-14

Limehurst High School, Loughborough ages 11-14

Woodbrook Vale High School, Loughborough ages 11-14

Rawlins Community College, Quornages 14-19

Humphrey Perkins High School and Community Centre, Barrow upon Soar ages 11-14

In addition the following schools in Loughborough are being considered as part of the proposals for change:

De Lisle Catholic Science Collegeages 11-19

Ashmount School (for pupils with statements of Special Educational Needs)ages 2-18