NEWSLETTER - MARCH 08

Welcome to the C.L.A.R.E newsletter, keeping you up to date with our campaign for rural education.

With the support of parents, teachers, governors, local businesses, societies, groups, councillors and MPs, C.L.A.R.E has been campaigning to keep secondary education in Clare. Option 3 of the School Organisation Review provided the solution allowing for three secondary schools within the Haverhill cluster, two in Haverhill and one in Clare. However, on 4th March 2008, the cabinet voted unanimously in favour of Option 1, two secondary schools only, both in Haverhill.

Although bitterly disappointed, we are not deterred. In fact, we are more determined than ever that Clare WILL get its secondary school. We believe that Clare town can continue to support future education in the area and is the best option for the children and the local community.
C.L.A.R.E will shortly be holding a public meeting for which details will follow; however in the meantime, here is some food for thought…

· Under Option 1, both of the two Haverhill schools will be larger than the council’s preferred optimum size of 900-1200 pupils. Recent research has proved that smaller schools perform better. Option 3 would keep pupil numbers to a respectable size and allow for future growth. Sudbury, Haverhill and indeed villages across the Essex border will all see considerable building development over the next decade.

· The School Organisation review promised better education for 14-18 year olds with provision for a purpose-built sixth form centre in Haverhill. This will now be assessed under a separate consultation for which there has been no timescales set. Until such time, Castle Manor and Samuel Ward will continue to have sixth forms as before.

· Clare pupils previously had the choice of Haverhill or Sudbury upper schools. Sudbury is in phase two of the review which is two years behind and therefore no longer a choice. Parents of children on the Sudbury side of Clare middle school are still waiting clarification. Those applying to schools outside their catchment area are not being accepted. There is no parental choice.

· We have been informed that there will be a separate consultation to move the Clare primary school to the middle school site. The site is totally unsuitable for primary school children and we would assume will be revamped. Current facilities in the middle school would not be available as the national curriculum for this age group does not require them. Why is the council considering moving the school? If it is a question of space, where do the local small village primaries fair? Could we be looking at a large ‘Rural’ primary school?!

Since the decision on 4th March we have been contacted by many unhappy parents across the county all asking us what they can do. Like us, they believe their children deserve better.

To join us in our campaign and keep up to date with news and developments visit our website at
http://www.our-community-our-school.co.uk/ or mail us at support@our-community-our-school.co.uk.
We would love to hear from you.