Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

SHERFORD SCHOOL

Most of us are still hoping that the new town at Sherford still will not happen. After all, although all of the legal decisions about whether it should happen are now in place (so we can’t stop it) there is still a long way to go. We accept that the SHDC have no choice but to include this proposal in their local plan, but we cling to the hope (probably unrealistic) that the economics won’t stack up and that this unwanted development will never be built.

In the meantime, the authorities are rightly putting in place all of the plans for the infrastructure that must surround this new community. Reality check: once the inspector makes a final decision next spring, it will all start to happen very quickly.

The advanced plans include discussions about a new secondary school, and under new laws, it is not just a question of the local council building and running it in the traditional way. Any group can put in a bid to run this new school, including commercial groups or churches. What a brave new world! The unions have recently called for Sherford school to be an LEA school in the same old way. Some things never change!

I am not in favour of a group of business people from up the line presenting some glossy bid to run this new school just for profit, but I am interested in two possible proposals of which I have some knowledge.

One is for this school to be grouped with the existing Ivybridge Community College. Given the fantastic track record of success of that centre of excellence, due mainly to outstanding leadership, this would surely mean that Sherford got off to a flying start and was inextricably linked to excellence. It would still be an LEA school, but one of the best.

Secondly I understand that there is interest by Churches Together in Devon a combination of churches of all complexions. They already run other schools which are doing well on the other side of the county. Church schools are popular because they tend to operate from a basis of very clear values that most of us want our kids to embrace, are strong on pastoral care and get great results.

I am sure there will be other bidders, but it is encouraging to know that there will be at least two quality options.

posted by Nigel on Monday, November 13, 2006