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