TORIES THROW LIFE-LINE TO THREATENED SCHOOLS!
Three Bristol primary schools threatened with closure could be saved if ideas put forward by opposition Conservatives are accepted by the City's
Cabinet.
Last October, Bristol's Labour minority Administration announced it was pressing ahead with shutting St Georges C E, St Pius X RC and Stockwood Green primaries as part of its controversial Primary School Review.
However, the plan was immediately put on-hold as a result of a successful Conservative “call-in” of the decision by Tory Leader Cllr Richard Eddy and Stockwood councillor Jay Jethwa.
A specially convened Call-In Panel of backbench councillors meeting on 17th November 2008, supported the challenge and referred it for debate by the Full Council.
At yesterday's stormy Council meeting, Conservative councillors proposed that all three schools should be saved and recommended that the ruling Labour Cabinet look at alternatives to closure, including expanding capacity at St George and creating a partnership between the three primaries in Stockwood.
Conservative Education Spokesman Councillor John Goulandris said:
“The Government's refusal to accept Bristol's bid for Primary Capital funding reinforces our conviction that this Review will not achieve its goal of improving educational attainment.
“Bristol City Council should be closing failing schools, not successful primaries.
“With the departure of the City's Director of Education, here is the perfect opportunity for fresh thinking and new ideas.”
Cllr Jethwa (Con, Stockwood) said: “The Primary School Review has been undertaken in a hasty and thoughtless fashion.
“In the case of Stockwood Green, we went through what can only be described as a sham consultation over its future.
“We need a local solution to the problem of surplus places in Stockwood - one which will command the support of parents, teachers and the local community.”
The Conservative motion urging Cabinet to reverse the three primary closures was overwhelmingly passed with Opposition Councillors backing the motion and the 23 Labour councillors present abstaining. This matter will now be considered by Cabinet on Monday, 26th January 2009.
