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MARY BURNS - GOING MAD IN MOORSIDE
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This week, on 10th March, Salford Council's Cabinet will consider plans to merge Moorside and Swinton High Schools into one new shiny overcrowded school – how bonkers does it get? |
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As part of Salford Council's Building/Bulldozing Schools For The Future proposals it intends to replace Moorside High School and Swinton High School with one new school for 1350 pupils age 11-16 on the site of Moorside's playing fields, opening in 2012.
By doing this the Council admits that "there is likely to be an estimated excess of some 300 + year 8-11 pupils". In other words the Council is spending upwards of £20million on a school for 1350 pupils when the actual number on the register when it opens will be over 1650.
The proposal aims to cram the extra 300 kids into the existing Moorside School for up to four years, by which time it's hoped that…what?...that no-one wants to go there any more?...I dunno…But would you send your kid there for Maths lessons?
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Sheila Roy wrote
at 5:10:52 PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 |
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From the website of Swinton High -
"In the last five years all seven science laboratories have been completely refurbished in a refurbishment programme costing well over £500, 000. There have been wholesale improvements to the school environment over the last four years and these are continuing"
but hey, it's only money!
Cllr Steve Cooke, when the officers say that the schools are reaching the end of their life span, do they mean the actual buildings? If so, it makes one wonder how on earth we have so many historical buildings still standing after centuries. Oh yeah, maintenance! |
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Cllr. Steve Cooke wrote
at 8:29:41 PM on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 |
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I have my own reservations about this new school, but you have to have some sympathy for the council. The two existing schools are, I'm told by the officers, reaching the end of their lifespan. I'm also told that there are very few places where replacement schools can be built and still serve the same catchment areas. So what are the council to do? |
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