‘We should praise Coten for its expansion plans - not isolate it’

As we reported last week, seven head teachers from other Warwick schools have all written to criticise the proposal by the county council to allow the oversubscribed Coten End to expand - and potentially drain money and resources away from their schools.

But Mary Grigg, whose older children have attended the school for a total of 11 years - even though she and her husband live just outside the catchment area - said: “The Courier’s article was fuelled by propaganda”

Mrs Grigg says she is among several parents and teachers who were upset by our report of the letter sent by the heads to county councillor Heather Timms, who is responsible for children and schools.

In it they strongly criticse a cabinet decision to allow Coten End to expand by installing a portable classroom in the playground when neighbouring schools are likely to be left with spare places this year.

She said: “Cllr Timms is responsible for making these decisions. Are the people involved (the seven headteachers) suggesting she doesn’t know her job?”

Mrs Grigg fears that the criticism is politically motivated and could lead to a change of heart on the proposed expansion which could lead to her children attending three different schools - one a secondary. She says her young daughter would certainly be upset to be denied a place at the same school as her older brother.

Surely she adds: “What a positive thing all the school expansions are? More choice more diversity...we should praise Coten End not isolate it.

“Schools will fill their places in years to come as the birth rate is rising steadily and more families are moving into the county. A happy child needs consistency which includes being schooled with their siblings.”

In fact the head teachers at schools like Woodloes Park, Emscote Infants and St Mary Immaculate Catholic Primary, all argue that more siblings will have problems in coming years if Coten End is allowed to accept pupils from outside its catchment area. Especially as some of their schools have already been expanded with extra classrooms.

But Mrs Grigg says: “Coten End has not had any (extra) public funding in years. It has thrived on a supportive PTA and an innovative leadership in Mrs Sarah Sheepy and Mrs Helen Dodsworth...I am very happy and impressed with the decision made...is this really about places or territorial jealousy?”

Another of the arguments used by the seven heads opposed to the expansion is that there is no increase in pupil numbers in Warwick district in September 2013 that would warrant or justify extending Coten End. A loss of ten pupils from one school would be the equivalent of losing £26,395 - or a full-time teacher’s post.