bye deans

[TrueBlue]

Deans School will be closed

Right move in my view no room for any stupid sentiment with no factual evidence that pupil numbers will rise.

http://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/10841108.Live__County_council_closes_Deanes_School/?ref=var_0

awaits OBL to tell us why is should stay open

 

[Benfleet A1]

A decision that is going to come back and bite Essex County Council in the arse. Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh now only has two secondary schools to cater for nine primary schools. Belfairs, Sweyne, Appleton and King John will have to pick up the extra. Madness in my opinion.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Why I am rising to the bait I am not quite sure, however, Deanes serves far more than just the pupils of Castle Point. It already takes large numbers of pupils from both Basildon and Southend, and with the developments planned in Rayleigh, pupils from that area would only have increased as well. Both Basildon and Southend have supported Deanes in their fight and spoken out publicly in support, as well, of course, as Castle Point Council. It seems illogical to me that local views are being over-looked to the extent they have been in this case.

Absolutely no consideration has been given to the planned housing developments in the Castle Point area or that the majority of primary schools in the area are at capacity, and which King John and Appleton would not be able to cope with as things stand. There was a dip in pre-school numbers 7 years ago, these numbers are now the numbers which have gone on to be year 7s and 8s....it was a low birth period in this area, which has soon been reversed.

This has been a total whitewash by ECC who clearly have another agenda, which, ironically, will almost definitely include housing. I wonder where all those children will go to school then? Maybe they'd like to go the Basildon Academy just today put into special measures.

 

[Mad Cyril]

My kids play tennis there.

If I can't find another place that does lessons then I'll have to get them.into a polo club.

 

[OldBlueLady]

My kids play tennis there.

If I can't find another place that does lessons then I'll have to get them.into a polo club.

Part of the argument has been the extra curricular provision at Deanes and how it is used by the community, something that can't be said for Appleton or King John. Deanes runs a fantastic holiday sports programme, there's nothing else anywhere in the area like it.

 

[TrueBlue]

Why I am rising to the bait I am not quite sure, however, Deanes serves far more than just the pupils of Castle Point. It already takes large numbers of pupils from both Basildon and Southend, and with the developments planned in Rayleigh, pupils from that area would only have increased as well. Both Basildon and Southend have supported Deanes in their fight and spoken out publicly in support, as well, of course, as Castle Point Council. It seems illogical to me that local views are being over-looked to the extent they have been in this case.

Absolutely no consideration has been given to the planned housing developments in the Castle Point area or that the majority of primary schools in the area are at capacity, and which King John and Appleton would not be able to cope with as things stand. There was a dip in pre-school numbers 7 years ago, these numbers are now the numbers which have gone on to be year 7s and 8s....it was a low birth period in this area, which has soon been reversed.

This has been a total whitewash by ECC who clearly have another agenda, which, ironically, will almost definitely include housing. I wonder where all those children will go to school then? Maybe they'd like to go the Basildon Academy just today put into special measures.

Was not bait just your the only person I know on here who is a teacher of sorts

 

[MK Shrimper]

Was not bait just your the only person I know on here who is a teacher of sorts

PickledSeal but he's curiously absent of late.

 

[TrueBlue]

Part of the argument has been the extra curricular provision at Deanes and how it is used by the community, something that can't be said for Appleton or King John. Deanes runs a fantastic holiday sports programme, there's nothing else anywhere in the area like it.

Woooshhh :smile:

 

[OldBlueLady]

Woooshhh :smile:

Not at all, I am aware of Cyril's style of posting however, it is a genuine hugely beneficial area of Deanes. I am sure there must still be an appeal process of some kind, and I don't believe this is over yet.

 

[bucket&spade.f.c]

Sad Sad Sad day.............The school that made me the persons I am today :hilarious:

Cant see how you would say its the right move? As OBL said the school has many kids from all over was the same when I was there.
Houses will clearly be built there so where are the councils going to house the kids who live there? The schools around are already over stocked!


Only up side to this is I can buy a house there when its developed :smile:

 

[Mad Cyril]

Not at all, I am aware of Cyril's style of posting however, it is a genuine hugely beneficial area of Deanes. I am sure there must still be an appeal process of some kind, and I don't believe this is over yet.

I completely agree.

 

[Billy Bests boot laces]

PickledSeal but he's curiously absent of late.

He's always on the 'lash'.

 

[TrueBlue]

Part of the argument has been the extra curricular provision at Deanes and how it is used by the community, something that can't be said for Appleton or King John. Deanes runs a fantastic holiday sports programme, there's nothing else anywhere in the area like it.

What's wrong with Fitz and Swayne?

Fact is the numbers are so low how can you financially substantiate keeping it open???

 

[OldBlueLady]

Intake has been low in recent years because people have been swayed by the aesthetics of the place rather than looking beyond the battered buildings. Deanes, which is judged by Ofsted to be a "good" school, is in direct competition in Castle Point with two "outstanding" schools in Appleton and King John. Neither of these schools - and nor do Sweyne or Fitz - have the kind of holiday sports programme and after school programme that Deanes currently offer.

For years, Deanes have been promised a completely new building and a mutually beneficial site share with the Glenwood School, with, effectively, 2 new schools on the same site. Glenwood was to have been accessed through the back of the Virgin place on the Rayleigh Road. There is massive housing development planned in Castle Point, with some already underway.

Now with the ending of the Government scheme that was to have paid for this a few years ago, there seems to have been some underhand negotiating going on with Glenwood now proposing (and with ECC approving) the building of an entirely new Glenwood school, which becomes the South Essex specialist centre for autism, and having a residential facility on site.

Of course, being the type of school it is, Glenwood will not need the extensive grounds that Deanes currently enjoys so there will be more land than is needed and it is inevitably this that the County Council (which currently owns the land) will be eyeing up, as Glenwood's existing plot is of negligible value to them as it is likely to be unsuitable for housing.

Deanes have been lied to continuously, promised that they were fine as long as the buildings were operational, and that funding and the improvements were just around the corner. I feel hugely sorry for the many parents, staff and pupils for whom Deanes is the focal part of their day, and I really hope that they are still able to put through their plans to become an Academy which will change this outcome and take it out of the control of the County Council.

 

[TrueBlue]

Intake has been low in recent years because people have been swayed by the aesthetics of the place rather than looking beyond the battered buildings. Deanes, which is judged by Ofsted to be a "good" school, is in direct competition in Castle Point with two "outstanding" schools in Appleton and King John. Neither of these schools - and nor do Sweyne or Fitz - have the kind of holiday sports programme and after school programme that Deanes currently offer.

For years, Deanes have been promised a completely new building and a mutually beneficial site share with the Glenwood School, with, effectively, 2 new schools on the same site. Glenwood was to have been accessed through the back of the Virgin place on the Rayleigh Road. There is massive housing development planned in Castle Point, with some already underway.

Now with the ending of the Government scheme that was to have paid for this a few years ago, there seems to have been some underhand negotiating going on with Glenwood now proposing (and with ECC approving) the building of an entirely new Glenwood school, which becomes the South Essex specialist centre for autism, and having a residential facility on site.

Of course, being the type of school it is, Glenwood will not need the extensive grounds that Deanes currently enjoys so there will be more land than is needed and it is inevitably this that the County Council (which currently owns the land) will be eyeing up, as Glenwood's existing plot is of negligible value to them as it is likely to be unsuitable for housing.

Deanes have been lied to continuously, promised that they were fine as long as the buildings were operational, and that funding and the improvements were just around the corner. I feel hugely sorry for the many parents, staff and pupils for whom Deanes is the focal part of their day, and I really hope that they are still able to put through their plans to become an Academy which will change this outcome and take it out of the control of the County Council.

Is your view not a bias one though being a teaching assistant etc...? do you really understand the economic inside and out of this that the council are privy too?

 

[Pubey]

so why have ECC shut it?

OBL - what's their 'agenda'?

 

[OldBlueLady]

They haven't shut it. The Governing Body, staff and parents are fighting tooth and nail every step of the way. All that has been done is that the ECC bigwigs have voted to endorse the decision. There is still an appeals process to go through and I am hopeful that they will get the right result for the school, and in the meantime, they are seeking to take the school down the Academy route and out of ECC control.

Obviously I can't categorically say what the "agenda" is, because there is no actual proof, but it seems extremely likely that it's housing. There's not enough building land available and there are targets to be met. Deanes' land is very, very valuable and as I said earlier, Glenwood wouldn't need half the land that's there.

 

[TrueBlue]

They haven't shut it. The Governing Body, staff and parents are fighting tooth and nail every step of the way. All that has been done is that the ECC bigwigs have voted to endorse the decision. There is still an appeals process to go through and I am hopeful that they will get the right result for the school, and in the meantime, they are seeking to take the school down the Academy route and out of ECC control.

Obviously I can't categorically say what the "agenda" is, because there is no actual proof, but it seems extremely likely that it's housing. There's not enough building land available and there are targets to be met. Deanes' land is very, very valuable and as I said earlier, Glenwood wouldn't need half the land that's there.

Then I dont see the problem you have a delapadated school with low numbers on prime land for much needed affordable housing where you also have schools on the doorsetp - Belfairs - Appleton - King John - Sweyne - Fitz

Why does there have to be an 'agenda'? could this not be the case the those at ECC know the real picture? and we have teachers and family trying to cling on for sentimental value and the teachers from more of a left wing ala coal mine keep it open for the sake of it view?

I picked up a teacher who works there from Rayleigh station about a month ago and he was telling me that the unselfish move is to close it.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

What's wrong with Fitz and Swayne?

Fact is the numbers are so low how can you financially substantiate keeping it open???

Sweyne Park I think you mean. Joking aside, Sweyne Park which is actually a very good school who put the pupils and pastoral care first and results second. That said, there needs to be choice and to close Deanes is a shocking decision. A lot of people care about things like this, not just school teachers.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Then I dont see the problem you have a delapadated school with low numbers on prime land for much needed affordable housing where you also have schools on the doorsetp - Belfairs - Appleton - King John - Sweyne - Fitz

Why does there have to be an 'agenda'? could this not be the case the those at ECC know the real picture? and we have teachers and family trying to cling on for sentimental value and the teachers from more of a left wing ala coal mine keep it open for the sake of it view?

I picked up a teacher who works there from Rayleigh station about a month ago and he was telling me that the unselfish move is to close it.

Close Deanes and that's one less school. Where will all the kids who grow up on that land go to primary school, let alone senior school? What happens when we have a population explosion? It will happen, let's not kid ourselves. When you have kids and you can't send them to the schools in Hockley because the kids in Benfleet, Rayleigh etc have taken up the spaces because there isn't the room in their catchment, remember this thread.