Plan to cut pupil intake at popular school defended

COUNCIL officers have defended their plans to cut numbers at a Devon school as members of the community continue to support teachers' plans to fight the move.

Devon County Council wants to slash the number of children starting at Clyst Vale Community College in Broadclyst by 25 per cent because of uncertainties over the proposed Cranbrook new town development nearby.

But governors have pledged to ignore instructions from the council and, if necessary, opt out of its control.

Clyst Vale has always been popular with parents and about 400 youngsters from Exeter travel to it. There is a similar number of spare places in city schools.

Local councillors say they are outraged at the plans to change admission to Clyst Vale.

Peter Bowden, who represents Broadclyst on East Devon District Council, said: "I think the county council has serious questions to answer here, it's a tremendous school and children deserve better."

"People choose Clyst Vale for a reason. This decision seems to have been made in a very cavalier fashion."

Richard Somerwill, acting headteacher at Stoke Canon C of E, a feeder primary for Clyst Vale, said: "It (Clyst Vale) is a very successful school in a number of ways — not just in academic achievements, but in developing the whole child."

Council officials are worried they will not get Government funding to rebuild Clyst Vale if and when it moves to Cranbrook because of the number of city children who attend, as ministers have already contributed millions to reorganising education in Exeter.

Numbers of children allowed to start in Year 7 at Clyst Vale have already been cut from 180 to 162 in the lead-up to a move to Cranbrook in 2015.

But now the council wants the figure lowered further to 135. The cuts would be phased in over a number of years but up to 40 jobs could go.

County council officers insist there will be enough spaces at Clyst Vale for those who live in the school's catchment area.

A spokesman said: "We have offered capital investment to improve the buildings because they will be used for longer because of the delay to Cranbrook."

Clyst Vale head Kevin Bawn said: "The whole point of keeping our admission number at 180 is to guarantee a place for pupils in our eight catchment schools, and makes it far more likely that pupils in other schools which have fed us in the past would get a place.

"We are trying to make sure that parents have the same free, parental choice as in the past."