Deeside AM urges Education Minister to listen to the community and keep John Summers open

Alyn and Deeside AM Carl Sargeant is calling on the Minister for Education and Skills Huw Lewis AM to listen to the community and keep John Summers High School in Queensferry open. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The call from Mr Sargeant comes after campaigners vowed to keep fighting the school closure despite a High Court Judge refusing to allow a legal challenge to the closure. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Flintshire County Council voted to close the school despite many objections and referred their controversial plan to Minister for Education and Skills Huw Lewis for a final decision. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Carl Sargeant AM said;
“I’m urging Huw Lewis to make the right decision for the community and keep John Summers open,”
“As my official objections to the closure plans cite, the school offers a vital service for our community and closing it would have a massive impact on education and the wider community in Deeside.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Sargeant has met with worried parents, staff, governors and community members at his office and at John Summers and corresponded with many others. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Fight Is Far From Over ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

In his official consultation response of July 2015 and objection of November 2015 Mr Sargeant told Flintshire County Council he was convinced they had not considered the full and devastating impact closure of the school would have on learners and the surrounding community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

His concerns reflect those of community campaigners including: how pupils will assimilate comfortably in other schools, especially those with extra needs, disruption to pupils’ education, extra transport costs for those in an area of deprivation, the risk that children will end up walking dangerous routes. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Sargeant added: “Apart from all the practical issues, if this school with its proud and inclusive ethos were to close the effects on the surrounding community and its people will be huge. I hope Mr Lewis will back John Summers.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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