Dunmore School, Abingdon - letter to press

12.00.00am GMT Mon 4th Dec 2006

There has been a lot of very understandable anger and confusion over the proposals for changes to Dunmore Infant and Junior Schools.

The County Council has made its usual pig's ear of consulting local people and their representatives. The two Councillors from whose areas the majority of the children come (my Lib Dem colleagues Alan Bryden and Lesley Legge) have not been kept fully informed since despite promises from the Cabinet member for Schools.

The whole process has been very badly handled and has caused great distress amongst staff, parents and children. It is not surprising that the local community is feeling a total lack of confidence in the education authority, and that potential parents are becoming reluctant to enrol their children at the Infant School, especially given the rumours of a "super school" catering for children from the age of 4-19.

They do not believe, and nor do I, that this is a good solution for very young children. I would therefore urge Fitzharry's School itself to oppose any suggestion that their age range is extended to cover the primary years. Parents and staff should then be consulted properly on whether it is a good idea or not to merge the infant and junior schools into one primary school. In the meantime, I urge local people to give their councillors their views - and we will make sure that they are heard at County Hall.

Cllr Zoé Patrick

Leader of the Opposition