A wide range of proposals for education in Thurrock over the next ten years has been backed by the council's cabinet.

They range from building new schools in Aveley and Grays, to looking at combining headteacher posts at combined infant and junior schools.

On Thursday council leader Andy Smith presented the plans to the cabinet on behalf of education portfolio holder Carl Morris.

Quizzed by John Kent on the 12 "specific proposals", Mr Smith said they were not set in stone, were to be consulted on widely and that there was "no timescale" for implementing them.

Cabinet members were discussing an item entitled "Shaping Thurrock: Education and Skills, which aimed to provide an "overarching strategic plan" which contains six strategic objectives for education provision in the borough over the next ten years.

Mr Kent asked whether the schools involved in the proposals had already been informed of the "radical" schemes especially as "at least two of the schools involved have, or are planning to spend considerable sums" on their present sites.

On Thursday Thurrock Council planned an official launch of the scheme with Peter Housden, director general (schools) of the Govern-ment's Department for Ed-ucation and Skills at the Civic Hall, Blackshots Lane, Grays.

In a council statement, Mr Morris said: "The document covers all areas of education, from school development and pupil services to employment and community involvement.

"We have proposed a challenging and demanding schedule of renewal for many of our schools. The message from headteachers is that after years of neglect, something needs to be done. We've taken this on board in the unashamedly challenging ten-year programme, and I make no apology for this."

Published Tuesday, May 27, 2003

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