I am really pleased to see Essex County Council has the foresight to expand the primary schools to cope with Colchester’s growing population (Gazette, February 14).
I am especially pleased for St John’s Green, which, under these proposals, would feel grass under their feet for the first time.
However, perhaps the officers responsible for these plans should share their views with the officers looking at secondary schools.
This highlights what we have been saying, that there will be rising numbers at Alderman Blaxill in the not too distant future – it is obvious to everyone, except Essex County Council, it would seem.
The numbers at the school at the moment are only so because of the threat of closure.
Alderman Blaxill is the last “small” secondary school in Colchester.
It is thriving as part of the Stanway federation, the children are educated in proper classrooms (not demountables), and it has a good Ofsted report, so why would parents not choose it?
If under any future proposal the land is sold off, this would augment the problems for the future.
The south Colchester area, in particular Shrub End, will need a secondary school in the future. Think hard, Essex County Council.
Kevin Starling
Eldred Avenue
Colchester
...If it works, cancel/change it. If the staff, children and parents of a failing school have worked hard to make it into a good school, slap their hard work in their face by closing it, such as Alderman Blaxill School.
Whatever you do, don’t cancel the non-jobs and put the people with high-up connections out of work.
Let’s continue to have directors with several deputy directors who can employ consultants!
Val Best
Ivor Brown Court
Colchester
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