'Sin-bin' plan anger grows

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'Sin-bin' plan anger grows

Neal Keeling

April 01, 2004

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ANGRY locals have told education bosses to drop their plans to use an empty school building as a "sin bin" for children excluded from Salford schools.

About 200 people packed a public meeting to protest and 500 signed a petition in just three days.

The council wants to use Oakwood High - a special school due to close in September - for a "pupil referral unit" to provide education for 75 unruly pupils aged five-14.

Existing units at Barton and Ladywell are to be demolished.

Last year, St Luke's RC Primary School discussed with the council a proposal to acquire the Oakwood site to build a new primary school.

But no agreement was reached and Liberal Democrat councillors in the ward were not told of the new plans by the Labour-controlled council.

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L, Cheshire (01/04/2004 at 10:21)

The excluded children should have a place like that to go, leave the children who want to learn in the current school. Unruly children bully, cause crime, if theres a specialist school for them, there needs can be catered for. Also they only disturb themselves!

Susan, Manchester (01/04/2004 at 15:54)

Everyone I have spoken to seems to agree that unruly children should not interfere with the education of those students who want to learn. I would hope that in a school designed to cater for special needs all children should benefit. Come on Manchester residents - everyone moans about bullys in school, polution, lack of phone coverage and crime - but where are we supposed to put these special schools, wind farms, mobile phone masts and prisons if communities insist on blocking every plan that could help.

This could be a project that changes youngsters lives and gives them a chance to get an education and a future. Lets support our children!

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