Thundersley: Deanes Saved From Closure

25 February 2014, 17:11 | Updated: 25 February 2014, 17:18

An independent tribunal has ruled the Deanes School in Thundersley will stay open.

The Schools Adjudicator has upheld an appeal against the decision to close the school, safeguarding its immediate future. 

It is the culmination of a long-running battle between parents, teachers and pupils with Essex County Council which announced in Sepember last year it planned to close the school. 

It claimed falling pupil numbers meant it was no longer viable. 

Headteacher Jan Atkinson says all the hardwork has been worth it: "We've been totally vindicated because everyone from day one knew this was totally unfair. 

"Everything in the report is what we've been telling the council since May and now we've got someone independent who agrees with us." 

Parents were concerned the loss of the school would mean two others nearby would become overcrowded and children with special needs would struggle to find a similar level of support elsewhere. 

The decision called-in and scrutinised by the council but it did not change its mind though and continued with the plans with a second report recommending the school's closure, before rubber stamping it at a cabinet meeting. 

Campaigners then took the decision to the Schools Adjudicator which has now ruled it should stay open. 

'No hard evidence'

In his report, David Lennard Jones said: "The council talks about the school roll continuing to fall yet its projections show that it plateaus between 450 and 600 pupils for the next ten years. 

"A school of this size will be a small secondary school but I have seen no hard evidence in the consultation that it would not be viable or that the size alone is a fundamental reason to close it." 

Parent and campaigner Sarah Raven told Heart she is delighted by the ruling: "It's relief because it's over but for me it's the beginning of a new battle for the Deanes. 

"[It shows] parent power, people power, community power. Lots of people have been telling me 'community spirit's dead, it takes so much to rally people together and you've got not chance against the council', well rubbish. We've proved you all wrong". 

The school has applied for academy status and should get a result next month. 

Ms Atkinson says the school has a bright future: "I think the world's our oyester. Our nursery and our sports facilities are a real strength in this community. 

"I'm really hoping we will get academy status. That will give us the independence to really fly." 

School still 'not viable'

Essex County Councillor Ray Gooding, Cabinet Member for Education said: "We are pleased that the Schools Adjudicator agreed with Essex County Council's view of falling pupil numbers and that he considered the criticisms around pupil projections unjustified. 

"Our decision to close the Deanes School was always made with the best educational interests of pupils in mind, both now and in the future, and we stand by our commitment to ensuring all pupils receive the best education possible. 

"There are no plans for Essex County Council to fund the rebuild of the Deanes school as we continue to believe the school is not viable. The Adjudicator has taken the decision to give the school a chance of survival and we will now work with them to manage this process."