Minister to meet MP over school closure plans

12.00.00am GMT Fri 29th Feb 2008

Defence Minister Mr Derek Twigg has agreed to meet Colchester MP Bob Russell to discuss the controversial proposals to shut the town's Alderman Blaxill School - where up to a quarter of the pupils are children from the Garrison.

The promise came in the House of Commons when Mr Russell asked if Essex Local Education Authority had consulted the Ministry of Defence over the closure proposal bearing in mind that only 18 months ago the Defence Select Committee had recommended, in a Report on Educating Service Children, that there should be discussions between education authorities and the MOD on education provision in major garrison towns such as Colchester.

Mr Russell said during Defence Questions: "The first the Colchester Garrison knew about the proposal to close Alderman Blaxill School, where between 20 and 25 per cent of pupils are children of military personnel, was when it appear in the Evening Gazette."

Responding to the Minister's comment that "the Ministry of Defence and Essex Local Authority's officials continue to discuss schooling for the children of Colchester Garrison," Mr Russell asked: "When did those discussions start and how do they comply with the spirit of the Defence Committee's recommendations?"

This then led to the Minister offering to meet Mr Russell to discuss matters in future detail. "I know that the MP for Colchester feels strongly about the matter."

Afterwards Mr Russell said: "I am grateful to Mr Twigg for his kind offer to discuss the consequences of the County's proposals to shut Alderman Blaxill School and force youngsters from Shrub End and the Garrison to attend an Academy on the site of Thomas Lord Audley School at Monkwick."

Mr Russell has now followed up his request to the Minister, with a letter, to that which he made during their exchanges in the House of Commons, for him to be provided with the date on which discussions between Essex Local Education Authority and the Ministry of Defence commenced in respect of Alderman Blaxill School, and details of any subsequent meetings. He has also Tabled further Parliamentary Questions on the subject.