Purbeck parents angry at ‘take it or leave it’ plans (From Bournemouth Echo)

Purbeck parents angry at ‘take it or leave it’ plans

7:00am Thursday 26th February 2009 in Search By Steven Smith

WHY didn’t you ask us what we wanted? That is the question the Purbeck Parents’ Action Group is putting to Dorset County Council over controversial plans to shift to a two-tier system to eradicate 1,000 surplus places.

It is consulting on its plans, but mums and dads say they should have been involved before the proposals were drawn up.

Dad-of-two Andy Kent said: “We should have been consulted at a much earlier stage when there were more options on the table, then we could have had some sort of ownership on it – it’s take it or leave it now.”

The group has accused the council of breaking guidelines set down by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

“I know people who are already looking out for first schools now in readiness for this. People are voting already with their feet.”

Parent Rachel Murray

Beverley Hindel, a mum-of-three, moved her children from Blandford when the county swapped from three-tier to two there. She said the reshuffle was still causing huge disruption and feared an overspend there would be repeated in Purbeck.

“The standards in Blandford have plummeted since the reorganisation,” said Mrs Hindel.

Rachel Murray, who has two children at Wareham Middle School, added: “I know people who are already looking out for first schools now in readiness for this. People are voting already with their feet.”

A council spokesman said: “We have been in close contact with the DCSF throughout this process. We have and will continue to follow their guidelines every step of the way.

“We talked with headteachers and chairs of governors about a wide range of solutions through workshops and meetings before developing our proposals, and stakeholders – including parents – were invited to make suggestions in an online questionnaire.” The spokesman said it “would have been fruitless to consult with wider stakeholders until we had a firm proposal to be considered.”

The council said no decisions had been made and the proposals could change after the consultation finishes on March 4.