Parents take on Tesco in fight to save school

Bethan Dorsett

February 18, 2010

Derrick Howells and other protesters against the closure of Lostock College, Stretford

Hundreds of parents and pupils are fighting a proposed school merger. Lostock College and Stretford High School would close to form a new academy.

But opposition is mounting. Lostock students have setting up two Facebook groups which have attracted hundreds of members, along with a 180-strong online petition for Downing Street.

Parents of Stretford High pupils also aired concerns.

Derrick Howells has two daughters, Danni and Leia, who attend Lostock.

"Parents like the school," said the 38-year-old, of North Lonsdale Street, Gorse Hill. "There is a real community feel and the class sizes are small.

"Everyone knows each other and there is a good relationship with teachers. That will all be lost if our children go to a bigger school."

Karen Lambert, 42, of Shirley Avenue and mum of 11-year-old Stretford pupil Declan, said: "Parents are dead against the merger.

"Stretford High teachers have worked really hard to make it a good school and if parents wanted their children to go to Lostock they would have applied."

The merger, which will address Lostock’s dwindling pupil numbers, is due to happen in September if approved but pupils wouldn’t be on a single site until 2013.

The council also plans to sell some land on the Stretford High site to Tesco as part of a superstore plan linked to the regeneration of Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Consultation with parents over the academy has started and, if councillors agree, the council then begins a statutory consultation.

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The Blue Solution, Always looking to the future (16/02/2010 at 08:34)

Nice to see a city scarf snuck into bandit country......

want to leave, Stretford (16/02/2010 at 08:37)

Unfortunately Tesco will win this one

debbie hamilton (16/02/2010 at 08:44)

I was a pupil at the school between 71-76 with approx 1000 pupils.Cant believe that pupil numbers are so low now!!!!!

Blue Nose 123, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 10:40)

Tesci are trying to take over everywhere, well done to parents and public for standing your ground, i hope tesco dont win

Dez, , Stretford (16/02/2010 at 11:13)

the council put out rummours that the school was closing and because of this we only have 35 new kids starting in september. this is very sad as this school is a comunity and all the kids look after each other. we will do our best to save the school. please join our face book group and save Lostock College

Dez, , Stretford (16/02/2010 at 11:18)

the new academy will only be for kids 11 to 16. kids now have to stay at school untill they are 18. whats going to happen to all the kids aged 16 to 18.. the traffic with the new tesco and the development of LCCC will be unreal. is this another way to bring in a congestion charge. also if Lostock closes then the school will be removed and Social Housing will be put in its place.. ask your councilors what will happen they arnt allowed to hide anything from us ask the questions then make up your mind.

STRETFORDIAN, TRAFFORD (16/02/2010 at 11:43)

walking around the lostock area at night shows that many children still live in this area,more so than twenty odd years ago when school numbers were nearer 1000 kids.this shows that majority of parents send children to other schools in the area ,wellacre has had a high intake of stretford children over recent years as have schools in sale.
i take this to mean that parents do not have any interest in lostock college as it has always been a failing school and even with reduced numbers, although getting better results in recent years it is still below the standard most parents want for their children. the new school will only need to deal with kids 11/16 years old as it will be next to north trafford college which will handle further education needs of many pupils as it already does.It will also have closer ties to the new academy making the transition of pupils easier .

Dez, , Stretford (16/02/2010 at 11:46)

As parents we are meeting weekly to arrange how we will fight the merging and closing of Lostock College. our next meeting is Monday 22nd feb at Lostock College. all parents or ex students, councilors and MP's are more than welcome. we need your support please help

Dez, , Stretford (16/02/2010 at 12:02)

Lostock shool has had dropping numbers partly to do with the old reputation. the standard of teaching and the results now are outstanding. the numbers are also reducing due to the rumours that we put out about the school closing. i know of parents who would of picked Lostock but because of the uncertanty they have opted for flixton girls or Wellacre, they arnt picking Stretford High. Also Lostock College is a performing arts college if it shut where is the nearest performing arts college??

Stu it Right, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 12:20)

I went to this school between 1990 and 1995. It was a good school, had an excellent head master and produced good results with over 1000 pupils. But if it is not performing then parents aren't going to want to send their kids there. They want the best for their kids and if it's not Lostock then what do you expect them to do? Maybe it is time it was closed down and money and resources were better used elsewhere.

Dez, , Stretford (16/02/2010 at 12:27)

as this school is bult all the kids from stretford high will come to Lostock.

Christine Jackson (16/02/2010 at 14:55)

Dwindling numbers, what do you expect when it has been rumoured for the past couple of years that Lostock is closing. A few years ago Stretford High's reputation was not that brill and was turned around by an ex Lostock teacher, Mr Davies - all credit due. It was then Lostock's turn to take the flak. I believe the parents of pupils presently attending have been given the option to transfer to another school in September, how many of them have opted for Stretford High???? A pattern appears to be emerging, dwindling numbers, perhaps it gives them an even better reason to close the school and earlier than the date given of 2013, if the school is to remain open until then surely the pupils in year 8 and above need not have been given this option. Sounds like they have it all wrapped up already,
Local resident.

STRETFORDIAN, TRAFFORD (16/02/2010 at 15:12)

dez as the site is already redundant,closed libary,medical centre ect it could be better if you spent more time adressing issues of future use of land.social housing would not be of good use to a community that already lacks resources for its youth.turning site into a communitry sports faciltiy dedicated to young people ,youth club and perhaps even linking with bodies like duke of edinborough scheme may have a better influence on children.it would be worth looking into and some present buildings including the arts centre could be made more available to everyone.

Stu it Right, Manchester (16/02/2010 at 15:19)

I agree with Christine. Mr Davies did an amazing job of Stretford High. I think he has left now though or is leaving so I just hope his good work continues

Christine Jackson (16/02/2010 at 16:38)

Dez, I hope you did not feel I was in favour of the closure, quite the opposite, I feel Trafford council are manipulating the figures to show Lostock in a poor light, i.e. requesting options for alternative schools for the pupils etc. this dwindles the figures even more and gives them more reason to close the school. I attended Lostock myself as did both my brothers and all our children, my youngest daughter left in 2006 with excellent results and loved her time there. Local leaflets drops would be an excellent idea as residents appear to be unaware of what is going on.

Dez, , Stretford (17/02/2010 at 15:59)

join our face book group to keep up with all the news and show your support. Group name: Save Lostock College say no to academy.

Dez, , Stretford (18/02/2010 at 09:38)

all these Academy's are privatisation of our education system. taking education away from the schools and makeing the sponcers responsable for education

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