'Dual option' key to school choice

As it stands, pupils from Nook Lane Primary School, Stannington who live within a half mile of the new school, will travel past the new school, then will pass through the Marlcliffe catchment area and on to Bradfield School. Approximately an eight mile round journey.

The dual option, giving pupils at Marlcliffe school a choice of the new school or for many their closest school Bradfield, has to be re-opened.

Surely, common sense has to prevail by putting this option into force. It is the most sensible, most economical and most environmentally friendly option.

You have shown decisions can be reversed. Give Marlcliffe the dual option

Mark Dyson

Serious implications

THE council decision to close Wisewood school is a terrible injustice that will have serious educational, social and political implications for this area and across the city.

Unjust because it is Myers that has the problem with falling numbers, not Wisewood, and yet it is Wisewood that is to be sacrificed. Why? Because the Government is pressurising local councils to create new Trust schools rather than a community school run by the local authority.

The Wisewood site is not big enough to rebuild a new Trust school, so Wisewood must go. No matter that it is successful and popular and serves its community well. No matter that the Myers site,although spacious, is in the wrong place to serve the combined communities. No matter that the "consultation" gave an almost unanimous verdict that local people do not want a Trust school.

Teri Connolly

Pupils unhappy

Since I found out about the merger of Wisewood/Myers Grove I have been having mixed feelings, which will affect not only me but many of the other Wisewood students .

Lately I have been feeling sad because I have just realised I will have to leave some of my old, best friends behind. Some people have been talking about moving areas just because they dont want to go to Myers Grove in the future.

Also I've been feeling angry because when I get home I'll be so exhausted because of the long walk to Myers Grove and back.

The feeling that I've been getting the most is worried. This is because the chance of hit-and-runs will increase because of the dangerous roads leading to Myers Grove.

Why did they choose Wisewood to be knocked down, because it is a good school?

Wisewood Primary student - age 10

Which petition?

I write in response to the letter, Despair over (shut] school. Could I ask the individual concerned which three petitions did the 'not prepared' Coun Rippon (me) not answer? I have checked the minutes of the meeting, and I was presented with two petitions, one with reference to Hollin Busk and the other referring to a planning application for a mobile phone mast, both of which I answered.

I accept that as councillors we are open to criticism, but I would appreciate that people at least get their facts right.

Coun Tim Rippon, Cabinet Member for Economic Regeneration, Planning and Culture, Sheffield City Council

Combined strengths

Your correspondent Darren Webb (July 31) is mistaken in his claim that 'until very recently secondary school closures were rare and only in extreme circumstances'.

The fact is that over the past 25-30 years there have been numerous secondary school closures and amalgamations as the local authority has tried to ensure that school places have been available reasonably in line with the number of children and where they live.

The peak birth rate in 1965 was followed by a steep decline. The children of parents born in the peak years are now themselves moving through Key Stage 4 of our secondary schools; some primary schools have already gone through mergers as their numbers decline.

Sheffield 6 is one of the areas where there has been a particularly sharp decline. What is vital for S6 is that it has a secondary school com-parable in quality of both buildings and educational provision to match those of King Edwards and Tapton. The proposed new school at Wood Lane will provide a school which will bring together the strengths of both Wisewood and Myers Grove.

Veronica Hardstaff, Governor Rivelin School