Now 'worst' school is to be closed

The Telegraph & Argus broke the news at the school gates after obtaining a secret memo that proved education bosses have given up on trying to improve the troubled primary.

Education Bradford, the private company that runs Bradford's schools, and Bradford Council have admitted defeat in trying to raise standards at Usher Street Primary School.

The 156-pupil school, off Wakefield Road, Bradford, has been under the scrutiny of Ofsted inspectors longer than any other in the country and has been in special measures for the past three years.

Proposals are to be published to close Usher Street at the end of the summer term next July.

Pupils and staff will have to be found places at neighbouring schools when they start the new school year next September.

But it is likely many will have to be taught in temporary classrooms as there are not enough space places at the nearby schools.

Parents were shocked to be told by the T&A of the closure plan as they picked their children up from school yesterday.

Karen Shurrock, 34, of Leeds Road, Barkerend, whose eight-year-old daughter goes to the school, said: "This makes me really angry. Why have we not been told sooner and what about her education?"

In a confidential memo obtained by the T&A, Mark Carriline, strategic director of services for children and young people, reveals the decision to start the closure process immediately had been taken after the authority and Education Bradford learned two days ago the Government was "on the verge" of ordering it to do so.

Mr Carriline states: "To avoid the unwelcome publicity that a Ministerial direction would inevitably generate I have, with the support of the lead member (Councillor Dale Smith), notified the DfES that we consult on a proposal to close the school from July 2007."

His memo adds: "My view is that Usher Street cannot, in the medium or longer term, provide a satisfactory quality of education for its pupils and that there is no realistic alternative to closure.

"My staff and those of Education Bradford will be working very closely together to manage this very difficult situation and ensure that the interests of the pupils as safeguarded through this difficult and regrettable position."

Earlier this year, education bosses appointed Kevin Holland, head teacher of Green Lane Primary School, Manningham, to act as executive head at Usher Street in a bid to bring it out of special measures.

Reacting to the closure, Mr Holland said: "I was asked to help drive up standards, which we have been doing since Spring Bank, to help bring the school out of special measures.

"A great deal of work has been done in school and staff, governors, parents and pupils have been doing a fantastic job and have worked very, very hard.

"We have noticed a great improvement in educational and behavioural standards and everyone should be proud of their achievements."

Coun Smith (Con, Wharfedale), executive member for children's services, said proposals to consult on the closure would be published. "I do wish to pay tribute to the work of Kevin Holland and his team over recent months," he said.

"This form of intervention was a temporary measure while we looked at the long-term future of the school and such intervention and support is not sustainable in the long term.

"I am advised that Usher Street cannot, in the medium or longer term, provide an excellent quality of education for its pupils and it is the pupils' best interests that must be paramount in all our thinking."

Education Bradford would not answer a series of questions asked by the T&A which included: l which schools will Usher Street pupils be moved to?

l how long will the pupils be taught in temporary classrooms?

l what is the likely impact the disruption would have on Usher Street pupils' education?

l will parents be provided with transport to take their children to other schools if necessary?

l what will happen to Usher Street teachers and administration staff?

Phillip Shackleton, Bradford secretary for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: It's very, very sad that we have a school that the local authority cannot put right.

"I would like to pay tribute to Mr Holland who has made magnificent strides with the school. This must be a great disappointment to him."

"This issue is endemic of too many old school buildings. The Council seems incapable of dealing with the old stock issue. Which one will go next?"

Shock and anxiety

Shocked parents reacted with anger and dismay as they learned Usher Street Primary School will close.

Education bosses want the school shut at the end of this school year - next July.

Daniel North, 27, of Bowling, was anxious to know which school his son would then have to attend.

"I do not think Usher Street should close," he said. "The other schools around here are all full. Lots of parents are on social support and cannot afford to send children halfway across the city to school.

"The teachers at Usher have been brilliant with my son and have really put the time in with him. What will happen now?"

Patricia Gibson, 23, of Upper Addison Street, Bowling, said her four-year-old daughter would be upset. "She loves it here and has only just started. We have had no problems," she said.

Paul Miller, 37, of Clough Street, said the closure would cause further disruption to pupils. He said: "It will have an effect on their education when they get moved on."

Geraldine Tyson, 43, a carer, of Hall Lane, East Bowling, said her nine-year-old son had improved in all subjects since he had been at Usher.

She said: "His reading and writing have really come on. The school has done really well for him. What happens now?"

But Nigel Cockcroft, whose former partner's eight-year-old daughter attends Usher, said it was time for pupils to move to a more modern setting.

"My father was a pupil here back in 1926. It's like something out of Dickens," he said. "It's time things moved on. We have got plenty of good schools round here."

Ofsted reports on the school, including the most recent assessment in June, say it has been beset by staffing difficulties and sickness absence with pupils coming and going mid-term.

Ofsted describes the school as small with a declining roll, served by high levels of social and economic disadvantage.

Ward councillors expressed dismay. Councillor Rupert Oliver (Lab, Bowling and Barkerend) said: "Keeping the children in temporary accommodation will be completely unsuitable. And are there local schools with the capacity to take these pupils? This will disrupt their education at a critical point. My main grievance is with the Education Bradford contract which has been suspect and unrealistic for some time now. I have no criticisms at all for the current head teacher.

"Usher Street is a good school, the parents like it and it should be kept open."

Councillor Mohammed Jamil (Con, Bowling and Barkerend) said: "The school should not close. It is an important part of the community. If a school is in special measures are we not supposed to help it and bring it back up?"

Councillor David Ward (Idle and Thackley), Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said: "I would be very interested to hear the views of parents. I don't think they want the school to close."

Pam Milner, deputy secretary of teaching union NASUWT in Bradford, said: "Our concern is for the future of the staff. They seem to have been among the last to know."

Bradford West Labour MP Marsha Singh said: "This school has been in special measures for three years. I am concerned Education Bradford and Bradford Council let it drag on this long.

"The priority now will be to ensure the children's education is not adversely affected. It is unacceptable for a school to remain in special measures for so long."

e-mail: dan.webber@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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