Conservatives Call for Cabinet Rethink on Primary Review Plans!
Conservative Councillors on Bristol City Council are calling on the Authority to think again before endorsing proposals to close schools, merge others and create mega-primaries in the city.
A decision is due to be taken on the post-consultation Primary Review recommendations by the Labour Cabinet at their meeting on Thursday, 25th September.
Despite nearly 500 letters of objection and thousands of signatories against the scheme, which will see the closure of St George's CE Primary, St Pius X RC Primary, Stockwood Green and almost certainly St Bernard's RC Primary, the Cabinet is expected to push ahead with the controversial plans.
Now Conservatives, who oppose the rationale behind the reorganisation, have warned Cllr Peter Hammond, Executive Member for Cohesion & Raising Achievement, that if he simply ignores campaigners and critics of the Review, they will call-in the decision.
Conservative Education Spokesman Cllr John Goulandris (Con, Stoke Bishop) said: "The Conservative Group tabled a motion strongly critical of the Primary Review at the last meeting of Full Council but there was insufficient time for it to be debated.
"We still have grave concerns over the rationale behind these closures and the arguments for mega-schools, as we simply do not believe that the educational interests of our youngsters will be paramount.
"These half-baked plans look like they have been cooked-up by a soulless accountant rather than determined on sound educational grounds.
"Now that Full Council has been denied the opportunity to have its say on these ill-thought though proposals, we will have little choice other than but to challenge Labour through the call-in process unless they have an eleventh-hour change-of-heart.
"We will not meekly stand by and allow Labour to force through their Primary Review wrecking agenda against the wishes of teaching staff, parents and pupils."
