Purbeck: a vibrant community, a viable future

Day 187

24 November 2009

OK, so this photo was taken on a quiet, windy night in the town, but I was struggling a bit to come up with a fitting photo for today. It is an interpretation, however, of how residents in the town and the surrounding areas are able to influence their own presence by showing they are there, even if it appears that they are not!

I am referring to the latest developments in the future of our schools in Swanage and Langton Matravers. Today the Community Overview Committee (COC) met with Dorset County Council to vote on the decisions. Last week the council decided that they would not be considering a consultation period in January for people to discuss the options regarding a secondary school in Swanage. They also recommended two options for St Georges school in Langton, and St Marks' school in Swanage. One was to close both schools and open a primary on the middle school site when it closes; the other option was to keep St Georges in Langton and move St Marks' to the middle school site. Swanage First and St Mary's will remain on site and become primary schools.

John England was quoted on camera before the votes were placed, saying that there are a surplus number of places in the schools and therefore it was necessary to close schools in the area, despite growing evidence to the contrary.

Education Swanage were able to give a 10-minute presentation to the COC to show the councillors that Swanage could viably open a secondary school as part of a twin campus with the Purbeck School in Wareham. The votes were counted, and 39 out of 40 votes were in agreement with this. A fantastic result for Swanage, especially as DCC were asked to provide a consultation period for the town to look closely at secondary school provision. The recommendation for St Georges to remain in Langton was also made.

Next week DCC will go to the cabinet to make a final decision and it is very much hoped that they will recommend a consultation period for the town.

If you want to help, please write to DCC explaining why you want this to happen. You can go along to a positive, happy and peaceful demo at County Hall in Dorchester next Wednesday 2 December at 09.30 in support of a secondary school.

For more information, go to www.educationswanage.co.uk