Snubbed again

CAMPAIGNERS calling for money to be allocated to rebuild The Grove School, Balderton, are having to endure another snub from the Government. The Education Secretary, Mr Michael Gove, felt there was little to be gained from meeting Newark MP Mr Patrick Mercer ahead of an announcement on which schools would receive a share of a £2bn Priority School Building Programme.

That announcement will now not be made until after local government elections in May.

As a result, Mr Gove called off a meeting planned for Tuesday at which Mr Mercer would have made the overwhelming case for money for The Grove, plus the Magnus and Orchard schools, Newark, and Toot Hill, Bingham.

Secondary age children in this area have been let down before, with news on when their schools will receive long-overdue investment being repeatedly delayed.

There is, understandably, growing frustration at the lack of progress.

For Mr Mercer, who said he was extremely disappointed that the meeting was called off, local schools are the most important issue in the constituency.

He remains confident there will, eventually, be good news for The Grove.

Meanwhile, the school and its pupils continue to show academic improvement.

Last year 46% of pupils gained five A* to C GCSE grades, including maths and English, up from 33% in 2010.

The head, Mrs Liz Hart, has summed it up perfectly: “Just imagine what they will achieve when they get the school they deserve.”