KEETCH SEEKS APOLOGY FROM COUNCIL LEADER

7.29.00pm GMT Tue 5th Feb 2008

Hereford's MP, Paul Keetch, has been inundated with letters, emails and phone calls from school heads, parents and governors about the ridiculous "review" carried out by Herefordshire council of our schools and in response has said he is glad that at the very least this plan has been shelved at least for now.

Commenting, the MP said, "I have written to the Leader of the Council, Conservative Councillor Roger Philips asking him to apologise to the Governors, teachers, parents and especially the children at those schools put under threat by his announcement.

"It seems to me that what is now required is a comprehensive review of all of the schools in Herefordshire, not just those identified by the council for closure or merger. It is vital that such a review be transparent and includes those schools most effected by any closure. It is also apparent to me that this review should take into account future changes in the county's population, and not be based on allegedly out of date information.

"I have little confidence that Herefordshire Council would be able to conduct a review, so I have asked the Government to recommend an independent body that might be able to carry it out. At very least any review conducted by the council should be open to external scrutiny and audit.

It is now vital that the Council establish trust in our education system for parents, teachers and children. Unless they can achieve such trust, the future of our children will suffer."