Secondary schools in line for major cash injection
TWO secondary schools in the Wetherby district are in line for a major cash injection under city-wide plans to improve learning facilities.
In December, Education Leeds will put a request in to Leeds City Council's executive board for 300million to improve the district's schools as part of a national government programme entitled Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
Wetherby ward councillor Alan Lamb, who is also deputy executive member for learning at Leeds City Council, is pushing to make sure Wetherby's schools receive a large chunk of that city-wide funding.
He is unable to confirm how much the district's schools may be in line for at this stage but says it is likely to be a substantial sum.
Coun Lamb is also keen to reassure Wetherby and Boston Spa residents their schools are not about to be demolished following recent media reports speculating on their future.
"Nothing at all is going to change at Wetherby or Boston Spa without formal consultation," he said this week.
"The education that children are getting isn't going to change. It's getting better all the time.
"But what we need to do is secure the investment that ensures the buildings pupils learn in are of the highest standard and fit for purpose.
"People will receive an outstanding education if they go to Wetherby or Boston Spa. Wetherby had the third best results in the whole of Leeds in the GCSEs this summer and we've got two schools we can be very proud of."
Coun Lamb says both Wetherby and Boston Spa are in need of long-term extensive investment to upgrade their ageing facilities.
He said: "Given the falling role numbers, the fact that there are all these Government changes to post-14 education and the fact that we've got two schools that need work to get them up to scratch, it would be completely irresponsible for Education Leeds not to look at every option on how to get our schools the investment they need and deserve."
Christopher Walsh, headteacher at Boston Spa, said: "Boston Spa School is achieving record results, and a rise in academic standards described by the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust as 'exceptional by any standard'. This can only be enhanced by future investment.
“We hope that this news will show prospective parents that Boston Spa and Wetherby schools have a great future ahead of them and that significant investment will be made for the benefit of their children.”
Wetherby headteacher Andrea Barnes was equally pleased to hear of a potentially large investment.
“Wetherby High School is a school for its students and its community.
“We are proud of our students’ outstanding achievements and we will to continue to grow as a centre of learning excellence,“ she said.
Because of the good standard of education both schools currently offer, they attract large numbers of pupils from East Leeds.
Recent reports have suggested a new school could be built in east Leeds to cater for these pupils, leading to fears of down-sizing at both Boston Spa and Wetherby.
But Coun Lamb said any new school in north-east Leeds would not threaten the future of the district’s existing provision.
vicky.carr@ypn.co.uk
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Weather for Wetherby
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Heavy snow showers
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