Hundreds turn out in support of threatened Glendale school
Glendale Community Middle School meeting.
GLENDALE Middle School can not be allowed to close - that was the overwhelming consensus at a public meeting held to discuss the future of the school after significant cuts to its budget were announced.
Almost 300 worried parents, former pupils and concerned community-members attended the meeting in support of Glendale - north Northumberland’s best-performing middle school - after it was revealed its future was under threat due to budget cuts.
“I was absolutely delighted with the turnout - all areas of the catchment were represented and all wanted Glendale to survive,” headteacher Ruth Bull said, after the meeting on Wednesday.
“We had 30 people volunteer to be on a steering/working group to plan our move forward and 38 volunteered to run a petition throughout the catchment area and beyond. Two parents volunteered to run an online petition.”
The future of the school became uncertain with the introduction of a new funding system for schools - which has seen Glendale Middle School’s budget slashed by £120,000 for the next financial year, with similar cuts expected in 2014/15. But Miss Bull insisted the school and the community were determined to fight the cuts.
“We don’t plan to close, we will fight the cuts and continue to provide first class education. We feel that within our 200 square mile catchment area our pupils deserve a good deal,” she said. “However, we need everyone to support our fight. Our plan now is to lobby national government to rethink the education funding formula. We want them to take note of the unique position of rural schools and implement a rural weighting - all we ask is for equal opportunities for our children so they can have the best education.”
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Weather for Berwick-Upon-Tweed
Sunday 26 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 6 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 7 C to 12 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: South
