Information on Loughborough

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

Posted on 04/07/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council

2 July 2009

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

There is still time for parents, pupils and local residents to take part in a major consultation exercise and help to shape the future of education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow.

Leicestershire County Council is seeking views on how £80 million of Government Building Schools for the Future (BSF) funding could be used to transform secondary education in the area.

More than 16,000 consultation booklets have been distributed to schools, governers, 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 transform education – 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.

A series of public meetings have been held at the seven secondary schools in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar and at Ashmount School in Loughborough where local people have been able to find out more about BSF, its opportunities and challenges.

The meetings have been very positive and were attended by more than 600 people in total.  Two sessions have also been held where local secondary pupils have been asked for their views.  More sessions are planned for primary schools for parents, governers, headteachers and pupils.

Sandra Curran, Director of the County Council’s BSF Programme in Loughborough, said: “I am encouraged by the enthusiasm of schools, parents and members of the public to bring about the transformation of schools in the area.

“I would like to thank everyone who has taken the time to attend the public meetings and send in their responses to the consultation.  There is, however, still time for people who haven’t already done so to have their say.  We would like to hear as many views as possible.”

The consultation exercise began on June 8th and will run until July 20th.

All views and opinions will be collated and considered after the consultation 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.  We are working towards Government approval to proceed and local people will be consulted again by the County Council on the proposed solution.

To take part in the consultation exercise, complete the response form in the booklet or respond online at: www.leics.gov.uk/loughboroughbsf

For more information about the BSF programme in Loughborough, visit the web address above.

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, Loughboroughages 11-14

Limehurst High School, Loughboroughages 11-14

Woodbrook Vale High School, Loughboroughages 11-14

Rawlins Community College, Quornages 14-19

Humphrey Perkins High School and Community Centre, Barrow upon Soarages 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