Closure threat hangs
over two high schools
by David Skentelbery
AT least one Warrington high school could close as part of a major review of secondary schools in the borough which also includes proposals for a new ?18.6 million school to be completed within three years.
Woolston and Padgate high schools are both suggested for closure if it is decided to go ahead with the new school on land at Hillock Lane playing fields, Woolston.
A wide-ranging consultation programme has been launched to give parents and other interested parties a say.
The review is taking place because of a need to maintain Warrington?s education standards at a time when it is expected dwindling numbers of pupils will jeopardise secondary education in some parts of the borough.
Tim Warren, the borough council’s interim operational director of education, said: “This fall in school rolls is a serious problem. School size matters. It is a major factor in determining the ability to deliver the curriculum. In very simple terms, more pupils mean more money, more staff and greater flexibility to appoint staff to a wide range of curriculum and subject specialisms.”
The review also links in to the Learning and Skills Council’s Strategic Area Review (STAR) for Warrington, looking at post 16 education including the need to expand sixth form provision in some areas and to consider the future of smaller sixth forms.
It will also enable the council to decide in which area to build a new state-of-the-art school building. Funding for the new school is coming from the Government’s Building Schools for the Future Pathfinder programme, which has allocated ?18.6 million for a single project to be completed by September 2009. Money for a further two new schools is planned for 2016.
Central and Eastern Warrington look set to suffer most from falling numbers of pupils in the next few years.
Three options are being considered for the first new school ? new schools on the site of Culcheth High or William Beamont or a new school on the Hillock Lane site which would replace Woolston High and Padgate High.
The consultation programme, which seeks the views of schools, parents, pupils and all members of the community on a wide range of options, will run until August 6.
Mr Warren said: “Not all of the options will become proposals. It is important that the advantages and disadvantages of each option are weighed up against the background of community opinion and in the context of a suitable strategic plan for each area.”
Borough council executive member for children’s services Coun Sheila Woodyatt (pictured)is urging people to respond to the consultation.
She said: “The council is committed to full and open consultation with the whole community, which is why we are embarking on this consultative exercise to enable people to help us make the right decisions.
?We need people to respond and enable us to take account of their views and all the relevant factors before a decision is made in September. I hope people will respond.”
Options to be considered in the review include:
Central and East Warrington
Do Nothing
The removal of Woolston and Padgate high schools’ sixth form provision by 2008
The closure of Woolston or Padgate High
A merger of Woolston and Padgate High Schools on the Padgate site, with or without a sixth form
The building of a new school to replace both Woolston and Padgate schools on Hillock Lane playing fields in Woolston with or without a sixth form
The replacement of William Beamont High School with a new building on the same site, in conjunction with the council’s Orford Park development.
Culcheth
The replacement of Culcheth High school with a new building on the same site.
South Warrington
The development of Bridgewater High School’s Upper School site to provide a single site school
Increasing the capacity of Lymm High School’s sixth form to add 50 extra places.
West Warrington
Increasing the capacity of Great Sankey High School’s sixth form to add 75 extra places.
Catholic Schools
Building new accommodation for St Gregory’s Catholic High School to replace temporary classrooms and meet planned admission numbers.
Copies of the Schools Review report and options are available from schools, from the council’s Children’s Services on 01925 442948, 442964, 442974 or at www.warrington.gov.uk/learning/secondary_provision
Festival goes ahead –
despite children’s injuries
by John Hendon
THELWALL Rose Queen Festival went ahead in glorious sunshine ? despite a chapter of accidents affecting some of the leading characters.
In the few weeks prior to the festival, three of the children taking leading parts suffered accidents.
Rose Queen attendant Georgia Mainey, aged eight, fell off her bicycle and required eight stitches to her left arm.
The other Rose Queen attendant, Jenny Woollacott, aged eight, broke her collarbone while jumping on her trampoline.
Crown bearer Thomas Ditchfield, aged seven, also fell of his bicycle and received three stitches to his head.
All three youngsters ? pupils of Thelwall Junior School ? showed true grit, however, to enable the show to go on!
Death of a
former Mayor
by staff reporter
THE death has occurred of former Mayor of Warrington and long serving councillor Albert Clemow.
He had been ill for some time and had not been attending meetings of the council.
Coun Clemow had been a borough councillor for 18 years. He was Mayor in 1998-99 ? the same year he and his wife, Jean, who was Mayoress, celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary.
He represented the Poulton North Ward and was extremely well-known in the Padgate Lane and Manchester Road area where he and his wife at one time ran a milk round.
Coun Clemow, aged 67, was particularly interested in planning and had been a member of the development control committee for many years.
In his younger days he was a playing member of the former Latchford and Padgate Cricket Club.
Red faces over
red road markings
RED-faced contractors are making hurried arrangements to correct a blunder which led to road markings warning of a 20mph speed limit near a Warrington school being placed on the wrong side of the road!
The red markings in Oughtrington Lane, Lymm, in effect warn drivers to slow down AFTER they have passed the school.
A number of nearby residents spotted the error ? and also the fact that the 20mph warning sign ? designed to draw attention to the markings – was placed in an obscure position where drivers would not notice it.
Coun Sheila Woodyatt, the borough council?s executive member with responsibility for education, who lives near the school, said: ?I couldn?t believe my eyes when I saw what had happened. You would have thought they could have got it right.
?But it was the contractor slipped up and has been informed.?
A borough council spokesman added: ?The contractor are aware of the problem and will be putting it right at their own expense.?
Village shopping centre
“like Liverpool docks”
by Lesley Wilkinson
PLANS to put metal security doors in Stockton Heath?s Forge shopping centre would make the area look like Liverpool Docks, a councillor has claimed.
Stockton Heath Parish Council was considering redevelopment of the centre ? and expressed concern over the proposed slatted doors at the main entrance.
Coun Sonia Boggan said: “There is no way we are going to let them put up metal slats. It is not Salford Quays or Liverpool Docks – there is no way we can accept this.”
She said if the security doors were needed, they should be screened with something more “appropriate” to the village.
Clerk Peter Briggs said he would check with Warr
ington Borough Council what planning consent allowed.
Walking Day grant
will not be needed
by Lesley Wilkinson
A ?1,000 grant set aside to assist churches with Walking Day expenses will be held back by Stockton Heath Parish Council.
The money had been reserved by the parish council to assist churches if they had to pay the costs of road closures.
But members heard that Warrington Borough Council were to provide the closures, at no cost to the churches.
The parish council agreed to retain the grant as it was no longer required and to reconsider any funding help next year.
Members will again watch the procession, on Saturday July 8, from the forecourt of Pizza Express in Victoria Square.
