Governor blasts plan to axe popular Wirral schools



A SCHOOL governor from Wirral has hit out at plans to close a successful and popular school.

Wirral Council’s ruling Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition approved proposals to consult parents on the idea of creating a mixed-sex academy and an all-boys academy for pupils.

They would replace the existing Park High, Rock Ferry High and Ridgeway High, in Birkenhead.

But Sally Reynolds, chairman of Ridgeway High’s governing body, said she believed many parents are opposed to the plans.

Mrs Reynolds said: “The community and parents have been up in arms about these plans.”

She said many people have received incorrect information about what is happening, and parents have been concerned about sending their children to Ridgeway fearing they will face the upheaval of closure.

She said the proposed boys academy aims to have results comparable to Ridgeway after five years.

Mrs Reynolds said: “Why would we want to send our kids to a school whose ambition is to get to where we are now in five years time?

“This is the libraries all over again – they decide what is going to happen and don’t ask what we want, and this is even more important because it’s about our children’s education.”

Ridgeway is tonight to hold a public meeting to gauge parents’ views on the proposed closure of the school. The “Preliminary Consultation Meeting” has been organised by the governors at the school.



THE ECHO

one of mine is in rock ferry at the moment and we have not been told a lot at all,he is under the impression that rocky is closing next september but i have had nothing to say so,no consultation at all,and dont even know where this new school is going to be sited.surely they will have to build it before closing a school down.my daughter wanted to go there in two years but that does not look possible now.

I have 2 kids in Ridgeway and have just been to there meeting concerning this .Nothing is finalised yet and Ridgeway wants to stay open so we are going to show our opposition to this.

can you imagine the chaos if they were all mixed together? these 3 schools fight each other on a regular basis and the last thing everyone wants is one massive school in an utter riot.

I went to presentation evening at Park High on Thursday and the head master said that it could be Park High`s last presentation evening as plans for the academy were moving along. Very worrying as parents don`t even know what`s goin on.

bring it on, Best part of day when two schools clash together in park,

It`s funny when you`re part of it as a kid (WeatherHead V Oldershaw, long time ago) but as a parent it does worry me. Kids aren`t kids anymore. My 9 year old has been attacked with bricks just for being in his own front garden never mind being in the wrong school.

Pardon my ignorance folks but where is Ridgeway School? Never heard of it but I have been away a while.
Around here the schools are doing similar and it means kids bussing all over the place and areas where the schools are being absolutely chokker with kids, blocking pavements, banging into people because they don't think they have to behave, abusing passers-by, dipping shops and all the usual kid stuff. Lots of other kids now get taxies to school (paid for by the council tax) because of various dubious reasons. How all this is supposed to save money beats me.

my two youngest went to rock ferry high. my daughter only left the end of summer term this year, son left 5 years ago. I cant fault the school and am sorry to hear it may be closed.

It's on the Noccy iirc.