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LOCAL SCHOOLS
Students at our local schools have lots to say. You can listen to them there!
St. Nicholas Primary School in Elstree closed on Friday 17th July
The week before I had attended a Closure Service next door at St. Nicholas CofE Church, with parents, teachers and staff, neighbours and friends of St. Nicholas Primary.
We listened as all the pupils sang together: 'Some of us may find it scary, just getting up to carry on but... we are enough'.
Thanks to their time at St. Nicholas, they will be enough to carry on.
On 20th July I returned to meet Headteacher Kate again and hear how pupils, their families and staff are coping.
She paused from organising shipments of furniture, books and other school resources to schools in Borehamwood and we chatted.
Last Thursday evening's Open Night had been an eye opener, particularly because so many past pupils of all ages returned to visit their school for one last time. It was clear just how much attending St. Nicholas had meant to them.
To hear more from Kate about what happens next and what the future might hold for her, simply listen to this podcast.
BWR has been covering the story of the efforts to avoid closure of St. Nicholas Primary School in Elstree, from initial public meetings to appeals At Hertfordshire County Council.
The school will close on Friday 17th July, and on 22nd June we returned to meet Headteacher Kate to hear how pupils, their families and staff are spending these final weeks together.
Although some children have already left for other schools, 31 remain at St. Nicholas and are making memories that will last a lifetime.
As well as organising special events for pupils, staff have been working with HCC representatives to help parents finding suitable alternative schools for their children to attend. At the same time, they are delivering teaching resources, equipment and furniture to local schools so that they may benefit.
Local residents who have supported St. Nicholas are invited to visit the school one last time for an Open Evening on 16th July.
On Saturday 11th July Elstree Screen Arts welcomes YOU to the Creative Arts Festival. The festival will start at noon and showcase the creative excellence of local craft and art production "madeHere" in Elstree & Borehamwood.
It will feature film, photography, fine art, sound production, lighting installation, hair & makeup design, costume & wardrobe, prop & set design PLUS live music, dance
and performance.
On 21st May Hertfordshire County Council's Cabinet
decided to continue with closure of St. Nicholas
Primary School in Elstree, despite a range of concerns
raised in debate in Full Council 2 days earlier.
While pupils in Year 6 at St. Nicholas and many pupils
in other years will stay until the end of the current term,
some pupils have now left for other schools.
Headteacher Kate Johnston-Grant described what she
and her staff have planned in order to continue to provide
the best possible support for pupils and their families.
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On Monday 11th May the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
of Hertfordshire County Council reviewed the process by
which Cabinet had decided to close St. Nicholas Primary.
Three hours later the Committee decided by the narrowest
possible margin to refer the matter to Full Council, on
the grounds that:
Closure of the school is a permanent and irreversible decision.
The evidence base considered in reaching the decision relating to falling pupil numbers relies on demographic trends which were arguably temporary. Local Plan proposals in the area suggest that in the medium term demand for school places will rise due to housing growth.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommend that Council consider the decision ensuring that latest available planning and demographic data is fully considered and that full consideration is also given to the responses to consultation.
BWR met with Headteacher Kate to ask her reaction to this
dramatic result and her hopes for the meeting of Full Council
on Tuesday 19th May.
You can hear her replies at: Local Schools | Boreham Wood Radio
After 140 years serving Elstree, St. Nicholas Primary School
now faces closure.
In this first in a series of podcasts, Headteacher Kate Johnston-Grant
and her Deputy Emily Porges describe to BWR the public consultation
which has just started and the support they have already received
from parents and neighbours.
BREAKING NEWS: On 12th November Elstree & Borehamwood
Town Council unanimously pledged to support fully St. Nicholas
Primary School during the critical months of consultation.
You can pledge YOUR support simply by following this link:
SAVE OUR SCHOOL SIGN OUR PETITION PLEASE
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