Summary of Responses from Record of Views, Letters, E-mails and
Petitions
All Hallows RC
Total Number of Responses
The following response was submitted by the Headteacher of All
Hallows RC High School:
On behalf of the staff at All Hallows, I write in response to the most
recent BSF consultation. Firstly, I want to say that we are delighted
that the new proposals offer us a new build on a site near the existing
school. We also appreciate that you have listened to our views on our
preference for the location of the new building to be in this area.
However, I also wish to state that we want for our children the same
basic standards, facilities and space as all the other children in
Salford. We feel it is vital that the rebuilding of All Hallows caters for
the needs of all students both now and in the future.
Regarding pupil numbers:
We want a school to accommodate 750 pupils as specified in the
original proposal which also specified a 900 place school for St
Ambrose Barlow and the closure of St George’s. For some reason
150 places have been removed from All Hallows and added to St
Ambrose Barlow in the new proposal. All Hallows is already
oversubscribed from the current standard number of 120.
Moreover, the factors which will influence the future size of All Hallows
are as follows:
 The natural growth in numbers is based on the greatly improved
perception of the school. The fact that the school is rated
‘outstanding’ by Ofsted is an important factor as is the school’s
consistently improving results.
 As St Ambrose Barlow RCHS is moving further away from this side
of the city, pupils from our seven partner primary schools, presently
travelling to St Ambrose Barlow, may decide to attend All Hallows.
 All Hallows will gain ‘high performing’ specialist school’s status
in January 2009 and will acquire a second specialism which we
hope will be in sport or sport related. This, together with its current
Business and Enterprise specialism, will be attractive to both
students and parents.
 The closure of St George’s RC High School will bring a ‘knock on’
effect to the Catholic sector leading to increased applications to All
Hallows from Catholic primary pupils in the vicinity.
 When ‘Salford Reds’ move to the new stadium and All Hallows
3
moves to the current Hope High School site, the area of Weaste
Lane will be developed for housing bringing more families into
the area and potentially providing more students for All Hallows in
the future (providing this is the whole of the Hope High site).
 The Diocese has specifically stated that 750 is the best
number for All Hallows.
 DCSF recommends that schools should be built to
accommodate 750 pupils.
Regarding the Locality Support Unit:
As there is no intention for there to be a Catholic Locality Support
Unit, the staff at All Hallows do not wish to have a Locality Support
Unit either on their premises or on their site.
A response was received from the Chair of Governors at All
Hallows RC High School which echoed the Headteachers view.
The following response was submitted by Emma Worsley
(Connexions):
A request for Careers Education Guidance (CEG) provision at the new
school to include a classroom, library and area for confidential
meetings.
St Ambrose Barlow RC High School
Total Number of Responses
Support for the Proposal
46
34
The following response was received from the Headteacher of St
Ambrose Barlow RC High School:
Revised Proposals under BSF
I am writing to confirm that I fully support the revised proposals for the
Catholic sector in Salford as outlined in the consultation meeting on 11
November 2008 and believe this will be in the best interests of Catholic
education in this Authority.
In particular, I support the relocation of St Ambrose Barlow to the Wardley
site.
Number of
Comments
1)
2)
Objection to St Ambrose Barlow being rebuilt on the
Wardley site due to access issues.
Objection to St Ambrose Barlow being rebuilt on the
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3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
9)
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11)
12)
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14)
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22)
23)
Wardley site due to proximity of high voltage
cables/green belt land/motorway/saturated ground
There are many sites more suitable for the new school.
Concerns regarding travel, increased travel times, health
and safety of pupils, financial impact on families and
impact on length of pupil day.
The feeling that St George’s RC is a good school and
serves the local community well and should not be
closed.
The feeling that St Ambrose RC should remain on and be
developed on its current site.
Would a reliable school bus service be provided?
Opposition to the school numbers being increased to
1050 – preference for small school, less bullying, pupils
and teachers know each other.
Children with special needs would be lost in the system
at a large school.
Concerns regarding the upheaval to education caused by
the school being rebuilt/merged with St George’s and the
fact that the new school may not attain the same
educational standards as St Ambrose Barlow currently
has.
Concerns that children attending St Mark’s RC Primary
School may not get a place at the new school
Concerns regarding the admissions criteria for children
attending St Luke’s RC Primary School.
Are children that live out of the LA area but attend a
linked school (St Charles’ RC) to be guaranteed a place
at the new school?
What are the admissions criteria for the new school?
Concerns that the funds already spent on improvements
to the existing building are now wasted.
Concerns regarding transitional arrangements for pupils,
future staffing and ensuring the performance of St
Ambrose Barlow.
Concerns regarding the decision making process for the
RC proposals.
Are the processes on target to achieve the September
2012 opening?
Would the new larger school be able to achieve a wider
curriculum?
What is the travel expense policy for relocating the new
school?
The Diocese should consider reorganising associated
primary schools.
A request that the new school will have a Careers
Education and Guidance (CEG) area to include a
classroom, library and area for confidential meetings.
Support for the proposal relating to the sixth form for St
Ambrose Barlow.
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5
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1
1
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St George’s RC High School
Total Number of Responses
417
Parents and friends of St George’s petition
278
signatures
Pupil petition
550
signatures
The following response was submitted by the Headteacher of St
George’s RC High School:
Re: Closure of St George’s
I again wish to object most strongly to the current proposals to close St
George’s RC High School. Quite simply, this school is successful, popular
and serves its local community well. The Government has stated many times
that ‘good’ schools should be encouraged and built upon and not destroyed.
From the very beginning of the BSF programme this school has faced
sustained pressure for its closure and a variety of reasons has been given for
its closure and yet there is no consistent Educational reason for the closure of
this school.
There have been very obvious attempts to isolate this school from the rest of
the schools in the BSF programme, for example it was stated quite clearly that
unless St George’s closes the whole BSF programme would close. It was
also stated that there could be no alterations to the BSF programme and now
more recently, the fate of all the other Catholic High Schools is dependent
upon the closure of St George’s.
I cannot believe that it was so essential for St George’s and only St George’s
to close. What was the overriding imperative for this school to close? Public
opinion believes that an earlier decision to build a larger school in the area
which is currently well undersubscribed has meant that actions need to be
taken to attempt to fill that school. Indeed the current proposals for St
George’s prohibits half the current 600 pupils from gaining an automatic place
at the enlarged St Ambrose Barlow because of its proposed size of 1050.
The consultation information sheet then further promotes this local school, as
an alternative place for their children’s education. This completely ignores the
fact that they have already chosen St George’s as the school for their
children, it also denies the right for future parents to be able to choose a faith
education for their children.
In an attempt to justify the current proposals there have been numerous
spurious arguments put forward. Namely:
 The state of the building: The reduced capacity of Harrop Fold School
and therefore the possibility of sharing school playing fields, the
possibility of using their old buildings temporarily to relocate St
George’s in the case of a rebuild could all have been used creatively to
save St George’s if there was a will to do so. It is absolutely certain
that a new school could be built upon its existing site and indeed the
Diocese commissioned an Architect to ascertain its feasibility.
 The number of Catholic children: Other Faith Schools in Salford have a
smaller number of children belonging to the faith of that school. At a
time when social cohesion is being promoted, the current practice a t St
George’s of welcoming children of all faiths and of no faith should be
applauded. In creating the extended St Ambrose Barlow, non Catholic
children will effectively be denied a place in that school. It must be
remembered that a requirement of all new school building s is to
guarantee a percentage of places to non faith pupils. St George’s
Governors have already agreed to do this and it is current practice.
 The limited amount of BSF monies: In a meeting which was minuted,
Jill Baker said, in reply to a question, that even if there were
considerably more funds available under BSF, she would still be
recommending the closure of St George’s. There has always been a
subtle threat to all the other BSF schools that their futures were
dependent upon the closure of St George’s. This has now been
focussed upon the Catholic schools where their futures will be seriously
threatened if St George’s does not close. Such a negotiating position
has been described as nothing less than blackmail.
It is clear however, that unlike the extraordinary efforts that Salford City
Council has made to save some schools from closing, for example in terms of
ongoing financial support, there has been a complete lack of effort to look at
ways of keeping St George’s open. This is despite the massive support it has
received both from within and from outside its community.
Councillor Warmisham refers to the ‘amalgamation’ of St George’s and St
Ambrose Barlow High Schools. It was reported in the press in a similar
manner. In order to soften the decision it was compared to the proposed
‘amalgamation’ of The Swinton and Moorside High Schools despite the
comparison being totally invalid. I believe this was quite a deliberate strategy
in an attempt to disguise the fact that St George’s was being assimilated by St
Ambrose Barlow. It hid the fact that staff at St George’s would be made
redundant and it attempted to hide the fact that not all the pupils at St
George’s would be guaranteed a place at the new school. The reality
however is that despite all the support for the school to stay open, it has been
ignored.
The Diocese has been offered three brand new schools which is a deal much
better that was originally being offered. It disguises the fact that new builds
are in fact, in the long term, better value for money. It also highlights the
weaknesses of the original proposals, because, it has now been shown how
technically difficult, if not impossible it would be to , for example rebuild St
Ambrose Barlow on its existing site and this is without consideration of a sixth
form. Its current site is poor and it would have to have been rebuilt on a new
site. The lack of accuracy of these original plans can now be seen more
clearly with all schools now being rebuilt, further downward adjustments with
regards to pupil numbers in the schools and revised timelines.
I believe that the current proposal with regards to the future of St George’s is
not in the best interests of the pupils. The scheme is a high risk due to its
location in greenbelt, the details of the sixth form provision are as yet
completely unknown to us and of course, for many of our pupils, there will be
an increase in travelling as well as future congestion charges. The needs of
our pupils are best served by a school on this existing site built/remodelled to
the same specifications as all the other schools.
Number of
Comments
1) All respondees do not wish St George’s to close
2) An oversubscribed, excellent popular school should not be
closed.
3) St George’s has good examination results, good OfSTED
and there is no need for a community police officer.
4) St George’s is held in very high esteem by all in the local
community.
5) St George’s has an excellent SEN provision; the help and
support given are second to none. Concerns that support
at any other school would be inferior to that provided at St
George’s and that a large school will not be suitable for
children with SEN.
6) The Prime Minister wanted to close failing schools not
excellent ones
7) The feeling that success should be rewarded rather than
failure.
8) Salford City Council do not care about children. ‘Thought
every child matters’.
9) Option of local RC high school education removed
10) Parental choice to send children to local Catholic high
school has been taken away.
11) Concerns surrounding travel, increased travel times,
health and safety of pupils, financial impact on families
and impact on length of pupil day. What transport will be
provided?
12) The effect of the proposed congestion charge on parents
taking their children to alternative schools.
13) Concerns regarding the extra cost of attending a new
school should St George’s close – new school uniform
14) The feeling that St Ambrose Barlow should have enough
places for all the pupils at both schools and should have a
completely new name and uniform.
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50
180
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15) ‘Every Child Matters’ should be demonstrated locally, they
should not have to travel to matter enough.
16) Generations have been educated at St George’s which
has provided an excellent education for many pupils and
set them up for a good future. Now the LA want to take
this away for future generations.
17) Parents want younger siblings of their children attending
St George’s to be given the opportunity to attend St
George’s.
18) Concerns that Catholic children would be forced to fill the
surplus places at Harrop Fold, which is seen to be an
inferior school
19) The non Catholic pupils of St George’s are opposed to
going to Harrop Fold which is seen to be an inferior
school.
20) Concerns that all St George’s pupils would not be
guaranteed a place at the new school.
21) The feeling that the new Harrop Fold School should have
been built on the Longshaw Drive site and the current site
utilised for a new build St George’s school. Any surplus
land being sold.
22) Objection made to the proposal to close St George’s being
linked to the proposals for the other RC high schools, yet
proposals for other state schools are not linked.
23) The perception that St George’s has to close to ensure
that Harrop Fold achieves capacity. Criticism of the LA’s
planning of Harrop Fold.
24) Why has Walkden High got an additional 300 places when
there are surplus places at Harrop Fold?
25) The government require pupils to stay in further education
but where are the student places within Salford?
26) The feeling that parental choice is being taken away
27) Parental and pupil preference is for small schools – St
George’s is seen to be a small caring community with very
little bullying and one where everyone, pupils and
teachers, know each other
28) Why not capitalise on the brilliant education that St
George’s provides and extend the school and do a
refurbishment?
29) The Catholic sector are being discriminated against,
Catholic pupils should be entitled to a Catholic education
in their local area.
30) Local primary schools have been closed resulting in only 1
RC primary in the area now the LA propose to close the
only RC high school in the area. Little Hulton and
Walkden children are abandoned at age 11.
31) Concerns regarding the local authority management of
closure of St George’s and eventual transfer of
pupils/transport arrangements. St Edmund’s cited as an
example of council’s incompetence (pupil numbers).
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142
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32) The Council directs Catholics away from St George’s to
Harrop Fold even though the proposal has not yet been
passed.
33) The view that there was blatant prejudice demonstrated
towards the Catholic sector during recent proposals and
that the subsequent deal struck with the Diocese to rebuild
3 Catholic high schools on the understanding that St
George’s closes is a disgrace.
34) One of the points made by the LA for closure of St
George’s was that small schools don’t work. All Hallows
was cited as an example by consultees which proved this
theory to be incorrect.
35) If St George’s closes the faith community in Walkden will
be destroyed.
36) Little Hulton is already an area of high deprivation and this
closure will take away the heart of their community
37) St George’s pupils undertake charity work to benefit the
local community
38) The view that the St George’s is being closed so that the
land can be sold to fund improvements at other
schools/build houses etc.
39) The excellent reputation for behaviour of St George’s
pupils means that there is no need for security on site as
at Harrop Fold.
40) The feeling that St George’s is an asset to the local
community and that the excellent teaching staff are very
supportive.
41) Pupil response that they enjoy their education at St
George’s and do not want it to close.
42) The school is recognised as one which encourages its
pupils and enables them to reach their full potential.
43) The preference is for a local RC high school within walking
distance.
44) All pupils in Salford should be given equal opportunities by
the politicians voted in by their parents. Salford Council
has let down the children of Walkden and Little Hulton.
45) Would Christ the King and St Edmunds be feeder schools
for the new school?
46) Suggestion that a larger school for St George’s be built on
the current site with shared playing fields with Harrop Fold
47) Why have St George’s own playing fields been leased to a
local farmer?
48) One of the reasons given by the council for closure of St
George’s is the poor state of the building, however many
building improvements have been made and quality of
education is seen to be of more importance than the state
of the building.
49) The BSF fund is not being distributed fairly, the money
should be distributed fairly and St George’s should be
included in the distribution – all other schools are being
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25
75
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offered rebuild.
The feeling that community high schools are getting more
of the BSF money than the Catholic high schools.
The view that the LA is not listening to the wishes of the
local community or staff, parents and children.
Criticism that Cllr Warmisham nor any members of
Cabinet did not attend the consultation meetings for St
George’s.
Criticism that the diocese did not play a more productive
part in the consultation process.
Criticism of the behaviour of some of the parents/carers at
the consultation meeting shown towards Strategic Director
of Children’s Services
Suggestion made to merge St George’s and Harrop Fold
and re-designate as an RC faith and community school
The Council continue to ignore previous consultations.
The negative impact on education standards when two
schools amalgamate e.g. Little Hulton and Joseph
Eastham. Seen to be very disruptive to education.
There is strong leadership, good caring teachers, strong
faith and good discipline at the school – ‘Every Child
Matters at St George’s’.
Closure of St George’s will be disruptive to the education
of its pupils, and in particular Year 11 pupils.
Why build more houses to bring more families to the area
yet close more schools?
To rebuild St Ambrose Barlow to cater for 300 more pupils
is an attempt to unofficially merge the school with St
George’s
The new St Ambrose Barlow High School will not have the
capacity to take all the pupils that wish to go from St
George’s
Objection made to the proposal to close St George’s being
linked to the proposals for the other RC high schools
St George’s pupils regularly gain media recognition for
their educational achievements.
The closure of St George’s will affect every child’s
education in St George’s, St Ambrose Barlow, All Hallows
and St Patrick’s.
The view that Catholic children will go to schools outside
the authority if St George’s closes e.g. St Mary’s, Astley
Concerns that staff at St George’s would not be
guaranteed jobs at the new school, therefore adding to
pupil disruption.
Criticism that objections are not being taken seriously and
that questions asked are not being answered but are
being countered by reference to the proposals. Criticism
also that Salford City Council charged St George’s for
undertaking the peaceful protest demonstration.
St George’s serves pupils from a wide range of
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70)
71)
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81)
backgrounds living in a deprived area. To close St
George’s would remove the main positive educational
provision in the area.
St George’s serves a unique, isolated catchment area and
the Catholic ethos helps to produce remarkably
successful, responsible and caring citizens in a district
where opportunities to succeed are scarce.
The local authority are seen to be resorting to blackmail as
the impression has been given that other Catholic schools
will not get funding unless St George’s agrees to the
proposals.
At the moment an inclusive faith education is a choice that
the people of Salford have. The council’s proposals are
divisive and will force schools to be more selective. How
is that inclusive?
The consultation information sheet promotes Harrop Fold
as an alternative place for their children’s education. This
completely ignores the fact that they have already chosen
St George’s as the school for their children, it also denies
the right for future parents to be able to choose a faith
education for their children.
St George’s remains massively oversubscribed. Walkden
and Worsley are among the only districts reporting
increased populations and higher baptism rates. Why
therefore rebuild and enlarge other RC high schools that
even have intersecting catchment areas?
One of the points made by the LA for closure of St
George’s was that there were insufficient funds to
incorporate all high schools in BSF. However when
further funds were offered they were immediately directed
at other RC high schools thus ‘purchasing’ their support.
One of the points made by the LA for closure of St
George’s was insufficient Catholic population, yet baptism
rates in Walkden are increasing and the Bishop advocates
an ideal faith school to have no single faith represented by
more than 40%.
Strong concerns were expressed regarding the
educational standards, behaviour of pupils and running of
Harrop Fold (i.e. overspending, building far too large, has
large debt, fails educationally, building is regularly set on
fire and covered in graffiti and an on site community
policeman is required).
Enforced mass unification of diverse sectors of the
diocese is not the preferred option of the majority; it is
fundamentally a conduit for cost reduction to the council.
St George’s is being closed for political expediency and
financial gain
The Diocese has failed Catholic children and the council
have failed non Catholic children.
Other schools are being built with numbers in excess of
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2
11
2
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1
1
2
2
their current numbers, yet 7 other schools have a lower
intake than St George’s.
82) Sixth form funding – advice from the Learning and Skills
Council (LSC) states that if St Ambrose Barlow closed
funding will cease, however the LSC confirm that this will
not be the case.
83) Salford City Council has produced political and religious
apartheid across the city.
2
St Patrick’s RC
Total number of responses
4
The following response was received from the Headteacher of St
Patrick’s RC High School:
St Patrick’s has not needed to be part of the statutory process of consultation
in relation to proposals for the RC estate within Salford’s BSF plans.
However, we did consider it important to consult with various stakeholders in
the school community to gauge opinion and consider the implications of the
amended proposals for St Patrick’s. As the Headteacher of a Catholic school,
it was appropriate to seek guidance from the Bishop. I noted support of the
Diocese before proceeding with consultation.
The original proposals were unsatisfactory to us for reasons cited earlier in
the process. As a school, we appreciate that our views were listened to and
amendments made reflect that.
St Patrick’s would welcome the investment proposed in the most recent plans.
A new build would significantly impact on educational provision into the future
and have considerable advantages over a re-model, causing less disruption in
the process. It remains important to us to get investment as soon as possible
because our current provision does not support the pace of our school
improvement work.
As a school we remain optimistic about the future. We are immensely proud
of our young people and we recognise the responsibility as educators to seize
every opportunity which will positively impact on life chances. We know that
the young people of Salford and St Patrick’s are special and they deserve the
best.
Number of
Comments
1) Number of responses in support of the proposal,
2) Concerns surrounding the possible disruption to pupils the
building of the new school may have. Request for further
information as to how this process will be undertaken.
3) A request for Careers Education and Guidance (CEG)
2
1
1
provision at the new school to include classroom, library and
area where confidential meetings can be held.
The NUT Response
The NUT made a comprehensive response to the November 2007 BSF
consultation on Roman Catholic education provision. That response remains
extant but there are some points on which the NUT wishes to respond on the
latest proposals.
The NUT has made careful consideration of the consultation proposals but is
particularly concerned with those aspects of the proposals which impinge on
the current of=r future employment and professional development prospects
of our members. The closure of St George’s will severely disadvantage NUT
members in that their status and tenure will not be secure. Even if the
Governing Body of St Ambrose Barlow were to ring-fence posts for St
George’s teachers which would be created by virtue of having an enlarged St
Ambrose Barlow, the number of additional places does not add up to the
combined numbers of pupils at St George’s and St Ambrose Barlow, therefore
putting at risk several teaching posts at least in the Catholic sector. As unions
are all too well aware, individual schools Governing Bodies are the employers
and cannot be directed to take on teachers who have been made redundant
as a result of a school closure.
It would appear that the main reason for the closure of St George’s now lies in
the granting of sixth form provision to St Ambrose Barlow. The NUT believes
that it is not in the best interests of teachers and children to be moving
towards an ad hoc arrangement of sixth form provision without consideration
of the implications for the whole of Salford. Following a very long consultation
and debate on the provision of post 16 education Salford City Council decided
to organise its secondary school to provide for 11-16 year old students and
that the post 16 provision would be provided by the two sixth form colleges
and the Salford Tertiary College to cater for many technical and craft skills.
Considerable public investment has been made in these three institutions.
Additional post 16 educational provisions will duplicate courses and
consequently put at risk jobs and current investment. Already we have a
situation whereby Salford’s two Academies will have sixth forms. The Director
herself pointed out that other high achieving secondary schools may
themselves be granted a presumption of a sixth form. It seems that the local
authority is sleep walking towards a change of secondary provision without
due and proper consideration. The complexities of a reduction of pupil
numbers and the probable merger of Salford College, Pendleton and Eccles
Sixth Form Colleges appears not to have been properly debated in the
Council Chamber, our schools and in the communities.
The consultation document makes clear that indeed the whole of the wider
reorganisation of Catholic provision actually hinges on the closure of St
George’s thus facing our members with an intolerable dilemma, if they fight for
their successful school to remain open they will be seen as putting in jeopardy
the future provision of Catholic education in Salford; a dilemma which is not of
their making and which they should not have to bear.