NOW that the public debate about the proposed closure of St Paul's School in Ramsbottom is over, we feel it is time to publicly correct statements that have been made about St Andrew's School during the last six months.
We at St Andrew's have deliberately made no public statement during this time whilst the future of St Paul's has been debated. We have not felt it right to enter into the debate. However, we now wish to correct some of the misleading statements about our school which have appeared on this page.
These are some facts about St Andrew's:
FACT ONE: We are proud to have received two Ofsted reports describing our school as "very good with many excellent features". Ofsted noted:
Standards are high;
Leadership and management are excellent;
Progress of pupils with special educational needs is very good and provision is excellent;
Behaviour and relationships are excellent;
Spiritual, moral and social development and partnership with parents is very good.
FACT TWO: It is untrue to refer to our school as being "full" and "crowded" (Your Letters, August 2). We currently have space for an additional 13 children and our classrooms are not crowded. In the last six years we have spent more than £130,000 building two large additional classrooms, a resources attic and an air-conditioned computer suite which is the envy of most schools in Bury.
FACT THREE: The allegation that our demountable classrooms would become "rotten" (Your Letters, February 22) would, if true, reflect a change of policy by the governors. In fact, the rooms have been well maintained, being re-roofed and redecorated and are popular with children and staff.
FACT FOUR: The emotive term "junction from hell" (Your Letters, August 30), relating to the school's situation, describes a road junction which is no worse than that at many other primary schools. A photograph presented to the Schools Organisation Committee on September 5 related to an accident which involved an elderly gentleman at 10.20pm, but this was not stated. The "very serious accident" on June 28 (Your Letters, August 30) took place about half a mile from our school at 4.30pm and did not involve a child from St Andrew's.
FACT FIVE: Questions about "how long some senior staff will remain there" (Your Letters, August 2) are pure speculation. All our staff are relieved that the closure threat to St Andrew's has been lifted. Over the years we have created an excellent and effective staff team which has resulted in a very successful school.
FACT SIX: The claim that "Bury Council and the Diocese of Manchester are happy to spend £100,000" on our school (Your Letters, August 23) is untrue. The Diocese of Manchester has no financial involvement in the provision of classrooms or any other resources at our school.
FACT SEVEN: The statement that the children from St Paul's will be relocated in "temporary buildings in St Andrew's School yard" (Your Letters, August 30) is untrue.
If St Paul's School closes all children attending St Andrew's in September 2003 will be using all of the school's facilities. Children from St Paul's will not be confined to the new buildings; indeed we have staff who would welcome the opportunity to teach in these new rooms. The proposed classrooms will be of high quality, modular construction with double glazing and will be linked to the main building.
We regret the implications of these, and many other statements, which have appeared on this page in recent months and hope that this letter will clarify the issues once and for all. We are very concerned that certain statements made may have had a negative effect on the public perception of our highly popular school.
Clearly, parents of the children at St Paul's would prefer their children to continue at that school. However, we would like to invite any parents or other members of the community who would like to come and look around our happy, thriving school to contact us (01706 82 2649) to arrange a visit.
We would like to reassure parents of present and future pupils that St Andrew's School provides an excellent standard of education and will always strive to do so.
COLIN CLIFFE,
headteacher.
REV IAN ROGERSON,
chairman of governors.
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