Communities at war over school merger

As a Wisewood parent, I understand why the parents in the Myers Grove catchment are in favour of it but please, can there be some recognition from them of the issues faced by the Wisewood Community?

As a result, their reasons for supporting it leave a bitter taste in the mouth. It is simply not neighbourly. Also, what do their children think?

I have no idea. All I hear is their parents preaching on about education standards etc - standards we are very happy with at Wisewood Comprehensive.

As well as the merger, there is the problem of catchment areas.

Mark Dyson (August 13) highlights the prerogative of the Nook Lane Primary school pupils to choose between Myers Grove and Bradfield and quite rightly argues for Marlcliffe Pupils to have the same option.

However, I would extend this to include all of Wisewood’s current feeder primary schools.

Without this parity, the community will not only lose a comprehensive school but probably at least one primary school too, as parents seek greater choice.

What will be next - local shops and businesses?

And then what will be left of Wisewood?

But then, who cares outside of the area?

Certainly not Harry Harpham and co. Certainly not the Stannington Community.

In truth, the merger is nothing less than a complete travesty.

Not a day goes by when I don’t rail against the injustice of the consultation process and chafe at my powerlessness to change a decision which affects my children so negatively in the future, and which makes them feel so unhappy in the present.

Sara Graham, Wisewood Parent