Future of Kettlewell School - Views from the Community

From Kay Massingham (former pupil)                                                                            12/11/2010

Hello,  

I was appalled to read on the website that Kettlewell school is now earmarked for closure. 

I attended Kettlewell primary school between 1972 and 1978 and still have many fond memories of my excellent time there. At that time, the school had 30-40 pupils on roll. As a moderately successful adult, with a job and a family, I do not feel that I received a sub-standard education owing to attending a small primary school. Nor do I feel that my social and emotional development was hampered in any way. Possibly I had less exposure to bad language and aggression that my own children, who attend a suburban primary with 100s of children on roll, routinely encounter. Of course, that may just have been the 1970s... in any case, I consider it a potential benefit. 

It's not ideal even to contemplate bussing children from Kettlewell to Grassington but what about those children who already travel some distance, every day, to get to Kettlewell? - I refer to those in outlying farms such as High Greenfield. I feel the professionals have narrowly focused on the numbers on roll without looking at the distribution of the children in relation to the school site. And in any case, as another person eloquently pointed out, projections have always been underestimates when actual enrolments take place, as new families with children move into the area. 

I'm also staggered to hear 200-300 people attended a public meeting in Kettlewell. That must represent a large percentage of the adult population of Upper Wharfedale - just imagine if in a similar scenario, half the population of a town turned up at a meeting to discuss a school closure? They wouldn't be able to find a venue big enough... 

If there is anything an outsider could usefully do, please let me know. 

Regards,

Kay Massingham

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From Richard Humpidge                                                                                                                            2/11/10

Hi All,

Thank you everyone for such an amazing show of support on Monday night. It was so great to see such a huge turnout and the level of community support that shows for the school. Thank you all.

I found Monday nights meeting extremely unsatisfying on every level. It really felt like the decision has already been made and they are just going through the motions. Their total inability to answer any of the substantive questions and arguments put to them just illustrates the point.

We did get one concession from them after the meeting though. They are going to come to the school on Friday the 12th to discuss some proposals and time-scales. I hope to have a discussion and not just the stonewalling we had last night. 

Before that I would like to hear from everyone and anyone that has any ideas about how we can ensure that there is a future for Kettlewell school. I am calling a meeting on Wednesday (10th) at 6pm at School. This is open to anyone and everyone, parent, grandparent, future parent, member of the community, ANYONE with ideas however wacky they might think they are. 

But this is not a meeting to discuss further strategies to defeat the council, just to come up with some ideas to take things forward.  

In the meantime I think it is very important for as many people as possible to respond to their 'consultation' papers. Quite literally the more responses they get the better, and do it now whilst you are all fired up after last  nights meeting. If you don't have a copy of the 'consultation' papers then you can find them on the NYCC website or more easily on the www.buckden.org website. Or just write them a long letter telling them what you think.

Please pass this on to anyone I have missed off the distribution list and to any other distribution lists you may have. We have to swamp them with responses as we swamped them with people in the hall last night. If you need facts and figures, then just ask me. Please also pass on this message to anyone not on email.

Many thanks for all your help and support

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Letter from Kevin Roe                                                                                                                            2/11/10

My wife and I bought a small business and moved to Buckden in 2001, along with our two children Dominic, then aged 6 and Stephanie, 3. We were fortunate in that we could have moved pretty much anywhere in the Country but we chose Upper Wharfedale, and Buckden in particular, because of the very strong sense of community, built around traditional institutions such as Kettlewell Primary School. Many families, it now transpires, came before us and I know many have followed, keeping the Dale alive.

To be blunt, on December 3, that will end – yes, in three weeks or so.

Why? - Because Caroline Bird, as the un-elected Assistant Director of Strategic Services Group for Children and Young People’s Services, North Yorkshire, has decided it will and will advise the elected members of the Education Committee accordingly.

An Exaggeration? – Not to anyone who attended the public ‘consultation’ at Kettlewell Village Hall last night and watched a visibly bored Ms. Bird reject submission after submission to retain the school or even to extend the three-week ‘consultation’ period. The decision has been made – ‘consultation’ over.

On What Basis? – Cost, falling numbers, pupil development and staff recruitment.

On the face of it very valid reasons, except that the actual facts tell a different story........ Click here to read the rest of this letter.......

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From David Lusted                                                                                                                                    1/11/10

Demise of Kettlewell School 

I’ve just returned home after attending an ‘open’ meeting in Kettlewell Village Hall, attended by between 2-300 people!!

The community of Kettlewell, supported by those of us from further afield, were wonderful in their unity and determination to show support for the present and FUTURE of Kettlewell School.  Faced with a choice (?) of two options, both of which assumed the closure of Kettlewell School, their reasoned arguments – justifiably tinged with a deep and sincere passion – was a sight to behold. 

Let us not underestimate the views of the top table speakers: the schools’ survival is under great threat.  To do nothing at this time would result in a lost school and the likelihood  of a devastating consequence on the nature of the village (and further communities up Dale).  Take away the school and the heart is ripped out of each of our villages; we will become centres of increasingly senile old folk, wringing our hands that ‘things could/should have been better’. 

I urge all to stand up, come together, remain united and fight for the survival of what we all know to be a wonderful school that has a great future before it.  I repeat, do nothing and the consequences will be immediately dire – and then we will reap the scorn of the next generation, if there is one, for failing to maintain an excellent school. 

There are many of us of like mind, but we need to be seen to be both united and active. 

Defeat must be regarded as unthinkable.  Remember, once a school closes it will never be reopened. 

Do not underestimate the ability of a community to cause a change of official policy; twenty-five years ago we fought a similar battle – and won. 

David

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