Home > News & Events > News >

Friday 26th October 2007

Hilary Armstong MP questions Council on school closure

North West Durham MP, Hilary Armstrong has questioned the closure of a local primary school. The Cabinet at Durham County Council last week agreed to proceed with the closure of Hamsteels Primary School near Esh Winning.

Now, the school’s local MP, Hilary Armstrong has contacted the Council to ask a number of questions about the decision.

Hilary Armstrong MP said;

”The educational welfare of children must come first and I recognise that the County Council does have to make difficult decisions about removing surplus places and keeping school buildings in a state fit for children to learn in. However, I want to make sure they have properly considered all the options. There was an opportunity to federate the two schools in the Esh Winning area and to keep both open until a new school was built in a few years time. I want to know if this option was explored fully before the decision to close was made.”

“I’m also asking for assurances about the safety of children travelling from Hamsteel to the school at Esh Winning and how any move will improve the children’s educational standards.”

Ms Armstrong has called on the Life Long Learning Scrutiny Panel at Durham County Council to look into the matter and will be seeking meetings with Education Bosses at County Hall.

ENDS

In this section: