Lincolnshire
Save our schools!
Photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Elaine Smith, former TUSC parliamentary candidate for Lincoln
Around 300 angry people attended a meeting in Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire recently, opposing proposals to close the town’s main school.
Five years ago, when Tory controlled Lincolnshire county council pushed for wholesale academy conversion, a successful campaign kept many schools within the local authority. Now, however, three of the four local secondary schools are converting to academy status.
Mablethorpe has a high proportion of social deprivation and Tennyson School was not seen to meet the ‘standards’ required for an academy. Pupil numbers fell to a level where Tennyson school is now said to be no longer financially viable. Parents rightly feel this was the intention all along.
Communities
Fortunately, these parents won’t sit back and let this happen. They believe schools belong to communities and closure would have a catastrophic effect on the town and its future.
The prospect of school closure has brought together a whole town to fight to keep its school. Parents are showing how, when organised, they are stronger. I am sure that Lincolnshire county council is not prepared for this collective strength.
