Public Meeting 7pm Wednesday 21st July 2010

PUBLIC MEETING, CLARE MIDDLE SCHOOL
7 PM, WEDNESDAY 21 JULY 2010

Dear Parent/Carer,

Significant developments in the provision of educational choice for parents and children residentin the Stour Valley Community on both sides of the Essex/Suffolk border.

If you have a child or children at Clare Middle School or at a primary school in Belchamp St Paul, Bulmer,Cavendish, Clare, Glemsford, Hartest, Hundon, Ridgewell or Wickhambrook, then attending this meeting is essential to your child’s future.

This meeting will tell you about the proposed new secondary school in Clare, Stour Valley Community School,opening in September 2011 at the Clare Middle School site.
You will be informed about the very significant progress made in developing this new School.

In particular, you will:
• Hear about our recent meeting with Prime Minister, David Cameron, and Secretary of
State for Education,Michael Gove, who have pledged their personal support
• Find out about the time line towards the planned opening in September 2011
• Hear about the vision for the new School and its aspirations for pupils
• Be introduced to the Trustees and prospective Governors
• Be addressed by a senior Department of Education “champion” who will be working
with us to ensure that the new School opens on time and is fully functioning from
day one

In order that all parents may attend, the meeting is also open to children.
If you are unable to attend the meeting but would like to receive information about these plans, please contact me at keith.haisman@stourvalleyeducation.org or on 01787 278925.

Yours sincerely
Keith Haisman
Chairman

Please note: Simon White, Director for Children and Young People, Suffolk County Council, has asked us to advise you that the information being distributed is provided by the Trust and in agreeing to distribute it, schools are not taking responsibility for the accuracy of its contents nor are they endorsing opinions expressed in it. However, should the Trust’s proposal be approved it is important that all local schools work in partnership in the interest of all children in the area.

Stour Valley Educational Trust Ltd
c/o 11, Hermitage Meadow, Clare, Suffolk CO10 8QQ Tel: 01787 279182
Registration Number: 7226557 Charitable Trust Status Applied for.
5th July 2010

SVET Press Release 1st July 2010

Press Release 1 July 2010

Stour Valley Community School, Clare

The Trustees of Stour Valley Educational Trust (SVET) attended a reception at 10 Downing Street, and a Cabinet Room meeting with the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Education, on Wednesday 30 June, 2010. SVET Trustees Keith Haisman, Patrick Bell and Derek Blake were accompanied by Diana Sharp, Chair of local parental support group, C.L.A.R.E.

At this event, the following key points were clarified:

• Prime Minister David Cameron provided his personal commitment to ensuring that SVET is empowered to deliver Stour Valley Community School (SVCS) to our community. Whilst acknowledging that this will be a difficult task, he assured us that he will provide the legislation, decisions and resources to achieve the necessary timeline.

• Mr Cameron also disclosed that he had delayed the House of Commons’ summer recess this year to ensure that the necessary educational reform legislation is in place at the earliest opportunity.

• The Trustees were introduced to the Department of Education’s Director of Local Improvement and Performance who is the lead official for the New Schools’ process. She confirmed that one of her Deputy Directors has been assigned to champion the development of SVCS. This appointment will ensure that central Government support is at the heart of all stages of the process between now and September 2011.

• Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove told us that he will invite Suffolk County Council and SVET to an early meeting with himself to ensure that everyone understands the need to cooperate fully to achieve an outcome satisfactory to all parties.

• Following these clarifications, SVET is planning to arrange a Public Meeting in Clare on 21st July. Mr Gove informed us that a senior Department of Education representative will attend the meeting and address parents, pupils and community supporters to assure all involved that the funding, process and timeline is in place to ensure the opening of the new school in September 2011. Details of the Public Meeting will be circulated in due course.

In conclusion, the Trustees are convinced that, whilst the formal process is iterative and could take some months to complete, that process has now commenced and will result in Stour Valley Community School opening in September 2011 at the site currently occupied by Clare Middle School. We look forward to working with all parties to improve educational choice, diversity, quality and outcomes in the Stour Valley community on both sides of the Suffolk/Essex border around Clare.


Ends.

For further information:
Patrick.Bell@StourValleyEducation.org – 07769 707051
Keith.Haisman@StourValleyEducation.org – 07990 612157
Derek.Blake@StourValleyEducation.org – 07849 871317