New plans will take away school's heart (From Stroud News and Journal)

New plans will take away school's heart

THE head teacher of a school for some of Gloucestershire's most disruptive children has pleaded with education chiefs not to axe its residential places.

David Macdonald of Amberley Ridge School fears that if the residential part of the school is closed his pupils and others across the county will lose out.

Gloucestershire County Council education bosses asked staff what they think of proposals to close the residential part on Monday. Parents and governors will be consulted tonight, Wednesday.

"If they GCC take away the residential side, they will take away the whole heart of the school," said Mr Macdonald.

The school caters for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties (EBD) and they are some of the most disruptive and troubled in the county.

Amberley Ridge is the only primary school in Gloucestershire which can give them the 24-hours-a-day attention they need, five days a week.

The 45 pupils are taught in classes of up to eight, by an expert teacher and learning support worker. Around half the pupils board for four nights in the middle of the week, which gives them a chance to settle in to a routine and learn valuable social skills with their teachers.

For many who come from outlying areas of Gloucestershire, daily commuting to and from school is impractical and disruptive.

The school received a glowing Ofsted report last year.

The residential part of the school, housed in a former hotel, is designed to feel more like a home than a school. Pool tables, video games, DVDs, arts and crafts activities, floodlit games area and a swimming pool come as a complete package for residential pupils, along with many organised activities. All this could be lost if GCC decide to axe residential places, explained Mr Macdonald.

He is also anxious that residential children may be forced back in to mainstream schools, which he said would not benefit all of them.

The proposals are part of a wider plan to develop special needs education across the county.

Cllr Charmian Sheppard, Liberal Democrat cabinet member for education told the News & Journal that no firm decisions have yet been taken.

"These proposals are up for debate and discussion with all interested parties," she said.

"We have lengthened the consultation so that all views can be heard and taken in to account.

"This is at a very early stage of the process and no decisions have been made."