The Deanes School – Advice to Southend parents

My Blog posts are like buses at the moment, but it has been a busy day today (yesterday now). Some comments to parents of Deanes pupils:

 

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council is currently considering its response to proposals to close The Deanes School, Thundersley on 31st August 2016.

Essex County Council has just launched a formal consultation into the plans.

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council’s Executive Councillor for Children and Learning, Councillor James Courtenay said: “We will be studying the consultation document very carefully to assess the impact for Southend children before making any formal response to these proposals

“We have already met with the lead member and senior officer at Essex County Council and will be having further meetings during the consultation process.

“I appreciate that this is a worrying time for parents and students currently at The Deanes School as well as for those who are due to start at the school in September 2013.

“We can reassure parents and pupils that we are working to ensure there are sufficient local school places across the Southend/Castle Point area both now and for the future.

“It is also imperative that if the final decision is to close the school, suitable alternative local school places are identified for all Southend children currently attending The Deanes School and we will be discussing this with Essex County Council.

“We invite any Southend parent who wishes to explore current alternative options for a child currently attending The Deanes School or who has been offered a place for their child from September 2013 to contact our Pupil Access team on 01702 215546 but I would urge caution in making any firm alternative plans until the outcome of the consultation is known.

“I encourage all affected parents and students to make their own personal response to the consultation.

“In addition to help inform Southend-on –Sea Borough Council’s formal response to the consultation we will be collating all views expressed to us on this issue.

“Pupils, parents/guardians or members of the public are welcome to email us their views to jacquiecrawley@southend.gov,uk or write to:

Jacquie Crawley
Department for People
Southend-on- Sea Borough Council
Civic Centre
Victoria Avenue
Southend -on- Sea
Essex
SS11 6ER