Campaigning for a secondary school for Knebworth, Woolmer Green, Datchworth, Oaklands & Codicote

Current Situation

Campaign leaders have been to London to meet with Michael Gove and David Cameron and the Government are supportive of campaigns for local schools where local people can see and prove a need for one. Whilst the Building Schools for the Future programme is being reformed, this hasn’t impacted the Governments proposals to support  community initiatives such as ours.

Funding the School

Initially we believed we were going to have to build houses on the site and sell them in order to raise the money to build the school, but currently, now it looks likely that we will be able to obtain Government funding; the new coalition Government have introduced a “free schools” policy allowing parents to set up new schools. We have applied to become a free school and there may be funding available to construct the school. We are waiting for further details to emerge.

Village Meetings

We have had meetings in some of the local villages, most recently Datchworth, to give local people an opportunity to come along and find out more about the new school proposal. The campaign team are on hand to answer questions and it is amazing how many people offer their services and help at these meetings – the momentum is certainly growing! Our next meeting is likely to be in Codicote in September.

Next Steps

We have applied to become a Free School as well as registering as an incorporated company and are working on the ethos of the school. The following areas are currently some of our top priorities:

• Education
  We are currently looking at different education models and taking expert advice on the best way to educate the children who pass through the school. We are also talking to educational special needs consultants about how to best serve the needs of those whom find education challenging.
• Access to the Site
  We are also taking very seriously the challenges presented by access to the proposed site. We are trying to review all access points whilst limiting the amount of disruption to the people who live adjacent to the site. We are also building into our plans ways of assuring the sanctity of the grave yard near to the proposed school.
• Getting to School
  Part of the beauty of a local school is that we don’t have to travel so far to get there and so the amount of traffic is likely to be reduced. In order for the children of Datchworth and Codicote to get to school in as “green” way as possible, we are currently looking at plans for a walkway/cycleway from Datchworth and assessing the optimum route for the Codicote children.     

And Finally!

The BBC is following our progress and often turns up at Campaign events; they are filming for a documentary about Free Schools to be shown in September or October.

What you can do to help

You can spread the word and urge your friends and neighbours to logon to the website www.WeNeedaSchool.org and sign the petition. You could also share any ideas with us.

 Keeping in Touch

There are various ways:

• The website is continually updated with the progress of the Campaign so you can keep up to date by visiting www.WeNeedaSchool.org 
• Join our Facebook group
• Follow us on Twitter @weneedaschool
• We would be interested in your opinions too, so there is also a survey in which you can participate at www.surveymonkey.com/m/newfreeschool

Micheal Gove is now going to take charge of education and, like all the main parties, has pledged his support to our campaign and the education of our villages’ children.

He is promising to remove much of the red tape in place from the previous government and in certain circumstances ease the way for new schools to open.

We have proven the need for this new secondary school for our community and families and continue to amass support.

The end is in sight for children being separated from their friends and being sent to a school that was not one of their choices – just the only remaining one with places.

We are ever moving forwards and will work with our new coalition Government and realise the vision for our future.

We are grateful for all your encouragement and support.

Jules

We have been listening to all the feedback we have been receiving, and working out the most beneficial ways to build our community area and school.

We are now looking at all the possibilities and collecting as much information as possible so we can use the input we have had from residents of the villages to, wherever possible, provide the most popular facilities that are being suggested.

Please feel free to let us know what you would like and any idea’s you have.
We are keen to hear from you.

We are also looking for visible homes in East Herts to place our Putterils sponsored “We Need A School” boards. If you would like one outside your home, or if you know someone who may, please get in touch.

In North Herts we are looking to get more posters up in front windows of homes. If you would like us to drop a poster through your door please contact us.

Jules

I hope you all got a relaxing break and wish everyone a wonderful 2010.

We are working hard researching other campaigns and gathering information to make sure we are taking everyones opinions and suggestions on board. Please keep your ideas coming in, we appreciate all input and have had some really positive and interesting suggestions made.

The biggest concern seems to be the LDF and the East of England plans for Knebworth South.

This is the same site as the school, but because of the extreme housing shortage, there is the threat of a huge development being situated there instead of a school. With our plan for the school we would have to build an estimated 200 houses, although we would prefer no houses, we need these to fund the building of the school and help restore Knebworth House.

The authorities are also considering building houses on the site, possibly without the school – this could be 2,000 homes if the East Of England Regional Authority decide housing gets the priority.

We believe this would be disastrous for our villages, as all the problems we are trying to find solutions for would be exasperated. It would also leave our children with a huge educational disadvantage, and could even end with them having to build a massive secondary school for all these children – not the traditional style village one we are aiming for.

A school and limited housing on this site would help us show we have shown willing for some housing in the ongoing housing shortage. A school would ensure a choice for the parents, similar to the situation when many local parents were schoolchildren themselves, and competition for our closest secondaries was not fierce. These days many of our families make their choice of which state school to appeal for knowing they will not get in by any other means. Months of stress for these families that can be avoided.

Let us know what you think!

All the best for the New Year,

Jules

There are currently a few ways to put your views on the secondary school situation and campaign forward and make yourself heard for your community.

Barbera Follett has included some details in her Community Newsletter covering her constituency and is asking for feedback on what her constituents think. She can be reached at barbara@barbarafollett.org.uk

Although Grant Shapps isn’t asking for feedback at the moment, he is very interested in our plans and supportive of our vision. If you would like to send any thoughts to him he can be contacted at grant@shapps.com

The East of England Regional Assembly is also consulting until 24th November as I mentioned in the last blog entry. They are looking at possibly building 2000 houses on the same site as we want a school! They are only considering sites that can accommodate a minimum of 2000 dwellings. A school would be so much more preferable, and think of the school that would be necessary for all those children if they build all those in Knebworth and Woolmer Green! If you haven’t yet commented the address is to view the details,
http://www.eera.gov.uk/What-we-do/developing-regional-strategies/east-of-england-plan/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031/east-of-england-plan-review-to-2031-strategic-advice/hertfordshire/

or for a quick reply http://www.speakuphertfordshire.org.uk/

There is also an anonymous and inaccurate letter going through letterboxes in Knebworth asking for feedback on the secondary school campaign and the LDF consultations and the EERA consultation. It is amusing as it states that only replies that including senders details will be considered, although they purposely neglected to identify themselves!

The anonymous person(s) are also asking for feedback to be sent to the Parish Council and District Councilors. Whomever represents you, why not let them know how you feel, that is what we elect them for.

Please try to let them know your thoughts, and feel free to send me a copy too!

All the best until next time,

Jules

We are really trying to listen and see what our community feels it most needs and wants.

We have a unique opportunity currently to utilise any development around Knebworth, and have the profits donated totally back to the community. This is an offer in accordance with the current North Herts LDF, and is on the table right now.

We are researching, and really want feedback into which facilities we feel would benefit us all most. Let me know what you would like – a new playground, wetland nature area, more facilities for the more senior residents, a swimming pool…

It is an unusual chance for a community to enable itself. What would you most like here, if it was all up to you… we are waiting to hear from you.

Have a great week,
Jules

This weeks homework!

In order to get an accurate idea of what we can create as a community, it is necessary to get some accurate quotes and that is what we are working on currently.

We need to work out what it may cost to build an underpass below the railway if necessary, plus the build costs of houses, both affordable and not as planning policy guides us on what percentages are necessary. There is also the amenities to supply to the site and local infrastructure to factor in. A huge amount of information to collaborate.

If we could get a feasibility study commissioned we would be very excited, as that would be an independent study examining the funding requirements in detail. It would also investigate the hurdles that need to be crossed and how to best overcome them to the benefit of the community.

It may not be the most exciting part of the vision for our school and villages, but an important part of making it happen!

Enjoy your day!
Jules

Well this has been quite a week for a busy mum of three who used to be a child-minder! Firstly we had the Woolmer Green open evening for anyone to come along, meet us and find out about the campaign.  We had said we would be there from 8 to 10pm but we were full by 7.40! It was great, although very busy evening, with lots of questions asked and some great options and points raised. A very positive evening with plenty of encouraging feedback!

Then Wednesday we had the Parish council Meeting in Knebworth –  where I have lived for the past ten years. The meeting’s agenda was for the LDF to be discussed, and then the We Need a School Campaign was invited to present and the chairman would host a short question and answer session.

Things got somewhat out of hand as residents local to the proposed site had justifiably come to air their views. I was quite shocked as I would much prefer to discuss how we can adapt our plans to work together as a community to get the community benefits we all want.

Hopefully in the future there will be a more suitable forum for everyone to come together as a community and decide what they would like. If the location of the the school isn’t a problem but the location of the proposed houses is then  lets look how we can change it.  If some people feel we need to include other community  facilities then lets see how we can make it happen.

We just need positive dialogue, so we can work it out. It must be better than just letting houses outside of our control be built and the community not benefitting!

Some very interesting points were raised at the meeting, we realise we need to check the funds required, and make sure our idea is viable and we need to look what happened in Wheathampsted. When the residents were given a new secondary school it closed 20 years later – where has that left the residents now? What really happened? We will research and the results will be published on the site!

There were also other questions: effects on public transport, the current local primary schools and more… Keep checking our website as we research these necessary points.

We know there are hurdles, but as a community, if we can discuss this project with an open, positive dialogue then maybe we can find a way to usilise the funds on offer to improve the quality of life for all of us.
I have not heard a similar opportunity to enable our society by using village profits and I hope we decide to work together and enrich our lives!