Labour members in Redlands and Park have launched a petition to Education Secretary Michael Gove calling on him to fund a new 11-19 comprehensive school for East Reading, rather than a university technical college aimed at the 14-19 age group only. And the petition has already attracted support from LibDem and Green Councillors, and got the local Tory MP asking organisers to work with him.
Redlands Labour candidate Tony Jones, who launched the petition last week with Park Labour Councillor Jon Hartley, says: “"There are not enough places in Reading schools for children living in the east of Reading. Parents want to know that their children will be able to attend a good school within a reasonable distance of where they live.
“It is disappointing that the Government has given the go ahead for a new secondary school in east Reading which will only take pupils from 14 upwards - and not from the age of 11 as parents hoped. Transfer at 11 is after all a cornerstone of education in Reading.
“We need a need a new Reading school which can offer high quality education without the disruption of moving schools after three years and just before GCSE courses begin - and without disrupting other local schools by stripping them of half their year nine pupils!"
Cllr Jon Hartley said "The present proposals do nothing to address the need for secondary places for 11-13 year old children and we must press for additional funding and additional places for that age group. With the former TVU buildings on Crescent Road seen as the most likely location a new school, Labour Councillors have also continued to make it clear that there will be no change to the status of the Alfred Sutton site fields. We will not allow any planning changes that would threaten this green space."
In a chance meeting in Reading the day after the petition was launched, Reading East MP Rob Wilson, who is leading the consortium planning to bring a new 14-19 University Technical College to East Reading, lobbied former Mayor Tony Jones to help deliver more money for schools in the area. Mr Jones says that a UTC is of no use to parents unless it also caters for 11-13 year-olds.
John Ennis, Labour Lead Councillor for Education and Children’s Services, is tabling a resolution for the next Council meeting in support of the campaign. He says: “This is an issue on which the Council must stand up for Reading. The petition has already been signed by members from other parties, and I hope my motion will have wide support across the Council. I am also writing to Michael Gove to ask to meet so we can put the case to him directly, and I very much hope that Reading East MP Rob Wilson, who has been promoting the 14+ technical college, now understands the 11-14 issue and will ensure we can meet the Secretary of State quickly and help get the right investment for the town.”
On-Line at www.gopetition.com/petitions/a-new-secondary-school-for-east-reading.html
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