School Closures: if it ain't broke don't fix it (South Dorset Liberal Democrats)

South Dorset Liberal Democrats <info@southdorsetlibdems.org.uk>

School Closures: if it ain't broke don't fix it

January 25, 2005 9:05 AM

Speaking at last nights Great Debate on Education in Wareham Graham Oakes, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for South Dorset said "If its not broken don't mend it!"

The meeting at the Springfield Hotel was well attended with standing room only, with some attendees confined to the entrance hall.

The Great Debate looked at a range of issues facing young people with the possible change in structure, scrapping Middle Schools, being the most contentious issue.

Graham, a former Vice Chair of Education and Chair of Finance on Devon County Council has been involved in reorganisations of both education and local government. He challenged the panel on its lack of educational evidence to support any change. He also expressed concern about the millions of pounds of public money needed to finance it.

"Almost every question that was asked of the panel concerning money was answered 'I do not have those figures with me', whilst I admire the council officer's honesty it did give the impression of being poorly prepared, which is worrying when these men control the educational future of our children."

He went on to recount the effect a schools reorganisation had on his own education: "I went through this process when they closed my Grammar School and merged it to form a comprehensive. I lost two years of my secondary education due to poor teacher morale and disorganisation. That is the real price of any reorganisation."

The debate continues tonight in Weymouth at the Hotel Rembrandt.