So now we know! We’ve long suspected that the real reason Essex County Council was so keen to close Alderman Blaxill school was to sell the valuable land that goes with it.

Now Stephen Castle has said Alderman Blaxill “may have to be” sold off, in which case children will have to be transported across the town to other expanded schools.

Let’s hope that either Jonathan Tippett’s bid for academy status for the federation, or the option of the school becoming a free school will succeed before Mr Castle can get his hands on it.

Barney Russell
St John’s
Colchester