New St Tudy School News The Governors recently held a meeting for parents and community members to update everyone about the new school and repairs to the current school building. Many of you will have heard on the BBC and local radio that the funding for a new school has been withdrawn. This funding was originally offered in 2005 by the last government on condition that the new school was built by 31 March 2011. All kinds of problems have prevented this, but the project is far from dead. The governors and head teacher have attended meetings with both the Diocese and Cornwall Council. Of course, there is now a freeze on spending across the whole country. No new schools are being built this year. However, Cornwall Council and the Diocesan still support the project enthusiastically and designs are well advanced so we can be first in line to apply for new funding as soon as this comes on-stream. No one should feel dispirited about our chances for a new school which is so badly needed. Indeed, we have received encouragement from the highest level. First came a letter from David Cameron who seeks to reassure us in St.Tudy that this government will continue to protect rural schools from any threat of closure. “The Government is seeking to strengthen the position for good, small schools,” he writes. “Furthermore, under the current legislation…there is a general presumption against the closure of rural schools.” Even more encouraging is a subsequent letter from Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education: “I am pleased to hear that the local authority and the school are working together to deliver a replacement building for this very good school. “On 5th July (2010) I announced a review of all areas of DfE capital spending. Until the review concludes we are unable to make promises about any specific funding streams after March 2011. Once the outcome of the capital review is known, St.Tudy School will be well placed, given the support of the local authority, to be a leading priority for access to any capital funding announced for the 2011-15 spending review period.” Given the level of support at local and national level, the Governors are confident that we will succeed as soon as funding becomes available again. The governors will continue to work with both the Diocese and Cornwall Council to put pressure on the government, keeping up the momentum for our bid. Due to the fact that a new school will not be built, probably for at least two years, the governors have allocated money for repairs to the existing building. This will include new boilers and radiators for the school, repairs to the guttering and windows and improvements to the inside of the canteen building. Suggestions were also received about improving the canteen space further, by asking the Playing Field Association for land, to have a greater area for the Foundation stage children to play outside. This might include a covered area, gardening space and a soft play area. The governors will be formally approaching the Playing Field Association about this and improvements to the playground.
Whilst governors and staff are making every effort to continue to work with the space that we have it was felt by some parents that there was still a very negative feel towards our school. An example was given that some people in the village still think that the school would be closing. This has had a negative effect on both numbers at the Pre-School and also to the school itself. Everyone is working as hard as possible to continue to give the children at our school the highest level of education – despite the cramped surroundings. We hope that by seeing investment being made in the school building, it will be clear to everyone, that our school is not closing our school is here to stay! Can I please remind everyone that if you wish to discuss any of the issues you are more than welcome to talk to myself, or any of our governors – Fiona Bate, Chris Mugford, Fiona Cambouropoulos, Victoria Nankivell and Sarah Northcott as Chair. She can also be contacted on chairofgovernors@st-tudy.cornwall.sch.uk
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