Head attacks borough 'bias' on refurb cash
March 23, 2009 1:30 PM
In The Royal Borough Observer [on-line]
In The Royal Borough Observer [on-line]
A WINDSOR headteacher has hit out after school's in Maidenhead were earmarked for a multi-million pound cash boost to fund refurbishments.
Education bosses at the council are hoping to win £180m in the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme, which involves rebuilding, refurbishing or remodelling local secondary, upper and middle schools.
The Royal Borough has picked five Maidenhead schools to benefit from the funds and schools in other areas of the town have been included as follow-on projects.
In a letter to the council, head teacher of Dedworth Middle School, Stuart Muir, said: "It would appear that the LA has without real consultation made the decision to focus its initial BSF budget on a particular area namely Maidenhead. This seems to completely ignore individual school's current needs irrespective of where they are located in the authority. It also appears to disregard developments such as ours, or the very real needs of deprived communities within the Royal Borough."
Mr Muir claims the school in Smith's Lane is located in the second most deprived ward in the borough and Dedworth Middle School and its students have the highest social needs of all secondary schools in the area making it the ideal candidate for development and improved resources.
Lead member for children's services, Cllr Eileen Quick, said: "Dedworth Middle School certainly is in possibly the most deprived area, but it doesn't mean the buildings are in the worst condition. We had to make an objective decision about which of the areas is in the greatest need because for the bid they want the schools in a geographical cluster. Because the schools in Maidenhead are in the greatest need of major refurbishment they will benefit first, but it doesn't mean the others won't get attention it will just be a bit later."