Letter from The Deanes RE proposed school closure.

Please find below the letter that Mrs Atkinson emailed home to all parents this afternoon. 

5th June 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

I know that many of you are upset and unsettled about the consultation. I must stress to you that this is an attempt by the Local Authority to save money and is not as a result of the school’s performance.    I insert a quote from a letter received from Mr Coulson regarding our exam results last year:

“I was delighted when the summer examination results were received to find schools like your own had ensured high quality outcomes for so many of their pupils”  and  “You must be very pleased with the rise in the results this summer”.

As a Good school with features that are Outstanding, we have delayed the decision to apply for ‘Academy Status’, due to a promise of a new build.  Following a full Governing Body meeting last night, it was agreed that we will now be exploring this option, which will include a Post 16 offer.  

Today, despite objections from two local secondary schools, I am pleased to inform you that we have been granted permission to broaden our sports specialism to now include Performing Arts.  The Office of the Schools Adjudicator has recognised that:

“The school has recently come together with two other special schools and a group of local secondary schools to form the Benfleet and Thundersley Inter-Cluster Trust. This group is working together for the benefit of the whole community and to celebrate success in performing arts.  The school has supplied letters of support for the performing arts vision and development from Glenwood Special School, Westwood Academy, the Castle Point and Rochford School Sport Partnership and the Benfleet and Thundersley Trust. “

This will provide further opportunities for any child with an interest in music, dance or drama, to pursuetheir talents.   We are now working in partnership with several performing art companies to enhance our offer further.

I would urge you as parents, to remain confident in our school and work with us in the fight to remain open.  There is no guarantee that you will be offered a place at the King John or Appleton School should you apply to move currently.  You could find that your child may have to move to Basildon or Canvey. The curriculum offer we provide will not change for your children.  Any child who has been offered a place for Year 7 inSeptember 2013, is expected to attend the school and we are looking forward to welcoming them on their induction days on Tuesday 25th & Wednesday 26th June.

The local authority is holding two meetings, the first is on Thursday 20th June at 7:30 p.m. in the Deanes Sports Hall and the second is on Wednesday 26th June at 7.30 p.m. to discuss their proposals and to allow parents the opportunity to ask questions and give their views.  It is essential that all parents/carers and community attend these meetings to show their support.  I would like to invite you to the school from 6 p.m. on those days tocelebrate the unique characteristics of the school and the high achievements of all its pupils in an exhibition of excellence.

Yours sincerely,

J.M.Atkinson (Mrs)

Headteacher