Hopes are high

Today’s visit to Newark by the education secretary, Mr Michael Gove, offers hope to those campaigning for the town’s secondary school buildings to be brought up to a standard acceptable in the 21st Century.

Mr Gove will see for himself the terrible state of the Grove School, Balderton, where the buildings are rated the worst in Nottinghamshire.

He will see the desperate need for investment at both the Magnus and Orchard schools.

The Building Schools for the Future programme may have been flawed but it promised a new Grove School, incorporating the Orchard School. The Magnus was also in line for major investment.

The decision to scrap it was a big blow after expectations had been raised so high, and prompted an outcry.

The MP for Newark, Mr Patrick Mercer, called on Mr Gove to visit our schools.

Instead, it was schools minister Lord Hill of Oareford who came in November, but he could offer nothing that gave cause for optimism.

There was disappointment, but the pressure was maintained.

It’s a long way for Mr Gove to travel with nothing to say.

Mr Mercer says of the minister’s visit: “If it isn’t good news, why come?”

Mr Mercer concedes the odds are against a complete rebuild of the Grove.

“That would be a wholly unexpected bonus and I suspect it is unlikely, but I would hope for significant investment,” he said.

Everyone who cares about the future of secondary education in Newark should share that hope.