Information from the Chief Executive of Cumbria County Council

We asked the Chief Executive a number of questions pertaining to the Academy.  Here are three of them and the replies we received.

1. Please confirm how an additional 200+ additional children can cross the bridges to Walney and back each day.

• Currently... around 200 children leave Walney to attend other secondary schools...with little effect on traffic and other problems... the proposed Academy will almost certainly see that trend reversed...projections indicate that ...40 pupils each year (5x40=200) may attend Walney from across the bridges...

HOW DO PARENTS OF WALNEY CHILDREN FEEL ABOUT THIS & HOW DO PARENTS OF CHILDREN THAT WILL HAVE TO GO TO WALNEY FEEL?

2. Please confirm whether all 3 schools will re-open as the Academy in 2009 when they close?

• The Expression of Interest for the Academy indicates..it will open in 2009 with  the substantive school on two sites. During transition the 3rd site will be used for outreach activities linked to the expanded 14-19 curriculum...

HOW DO PARENTS FEEL ABOUT THIS? DO ALL PARENTS UNDERSTAND WHAT THE 14-19 CURRICULUM IS?

3.  If the Academy is only taking 1200 pupils... explain where the other children are going

• ..During its first 2-3 years while the new building is constructed the number attending ..will be in excess of 1200 as all pupils attending the predecessors schools will be offered a place...  However, by the time (they all) move to Parkview... the numbers will have fallen... and (the reduction) will be achieved by admitting only 240 pupils (to year 7..) from 2009.

IN SEPTEMBER 2008 NEARLY 360 PUPILS WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE 3 SCHOOLS.  THEREFORE FROM 2009 IT IS LIKELY THAT MORE THAN 120 PUPILS FROM THE CURRENT CATCHMENT OF PARKVIEW, THORNCLIFFE AND ALFS WILL HAVE TO ATTEND SCHOOL ELSEWHERE.
HOW DO PARENTS IN BARROW FEEL ABOUT THIS?  HOW DO PARENTS ON WALNEY FEEL ABOUT ITS EXPANSION TO ACCOMMODATE THIS?

OSANFS have been accused of scaremongering.  These answers confirm much of what we always thought was the case.  That catchment areas will change and many children will not see the investment that this academy is supposed to bring.

Please contact us on our email address with your comments and let us know what you feel.

osanfs@yahoo.co.uk