City Council Tories challenged over school expansion

School Governor and Goldsmid ward Councillor Melanie Davis is be challenging how the Conservative's have decided to expand Somerhill Junior School.

Cllr Davis published a question to the Conservative Cabinet member for Children, joined by the Chair of Somerhill Junior School's Governors.

She said:

"Parents, residents, students and future parents deserve to be treated more fairly. They are right to be unhappy with the level of consultation so far. We are determined to get the best possible facilities for children in the area, whether that is through carefully thought-out and appropriate expansions or building more schools, but this can only be achieved if the Local Authority fully involves schools and parents when taking decisions that affect local children's education. We will be asking that the Conservative Council ensure that parents, pupils, staff and local residents are properly consulted on any further developments."

The Chair of Governors from Somerhill School, Mr Sam McGregor has also asked why Davigdor and Somerhill schools have not been consulted together.  He said:  At no time since January 2008 have Davidgor & Somerhill schools been consulted together, and any combined activities have been initiated by the schools, not the Local Authority. This could almost be considered a deliberate attempt to minimise engagement, despite words to the contrary."
In a recently completed and short consultation process, with just 18 respondents it was noted that some parents were against the expansion proposals and had highlighted that the potential problems of traffic in the area, the lack of detailed consultation between the two schools, the lack of outside space that would come about from the expansion and nearly all respondents had asked the council to consider building another school.