GLASS

(Gillas Lane Action to Support School)

Newsletter - Issue No. 3
Latest News
Despite Cabinet agreeing to the statutory closure
procedure to close Gillas Lane Primary no formal
decision has been made yet.

The Cabinet decision must be ratified by the

Schools Organisation Committee (SOC) of Cabinet
before the notices can be published. WE have been
advised that the publication of the notices will
happen at the end of April / beginning of may.

We are also trying to get the decision “called in”

for scrutiny at the next Children’s Services Review
Committee in June 2009.

Parents should avoid making any major decisions

about their child’s education at this stage. We need
to remain positive. The campaign continues.

COUNCIL SHOWS ITS TRUE COLOURS

Sunderland City Council showed its true colours on 9 April 2009 when the Cabinet approved the officers’
recommendations for school place planning and agreed to start the formal closure process for Gillas Lane
Primary School.

If this wasn’t bad enough the manner in which the decision was made was utterly ruthless and arrogant.
There was no debate, no discussion, no questions, no comments. Just rubber stamped in less than 20
seconds despite the incredible response from the Gillas Lane Community. Over 200 responses to the
consultation were received and documented in an appendix in the report yet they were ignored by the
Cabinet. Parental voice and parental choice has been silenced so that Big Brother can have his own way.

Members of GLASS were there with other parents and carers along with our ward councillors. All were
stunned by the speed with which it all happened. We were disgusted and appalled at the proceedings as
was the large contingent from Hetton schools.

Bemusement gave way to anger outside the Council Chamber. It just made us more determined to fight
this council. The disrespect that they showed to two significant communities is incomprehensible. At least
we know what we are fighting against now. And our tactics will change accordingly. There is still a long
way to go and we are not giving up the fight to

SAVE GILLAS LANE SCHOOL!

 GLASS
(Gillas Lane Action to Support School)
Newsletter - Issue No. 3
Formal Complaints
Statutory Closure - What Happens Next
We have been told by the Chief Executive’s Office that
the most appropriate body to consider the complaints n SOC ratifies Cabinet decision
was Cabinet. The complaints were included in the n Notices are published for the closure of
appendices to the report but there was no mention of the school in the local newspaper and
how they were considered. around the school
There is a six week period in which
We have written back to the Chief Executive asking representations and objections can be
him how the complainants’ concerns have been ad- made
dressed. (This is a critical period for the Gillas
Lane Community to put its views
It seems that the Council have not and do not want to because, in this process, the Council
address the content of these legitimate complaints must listen to us and explain how our
even though we are waiting for a response from the views have been taken into account in
Chief Executive to confirm this. making the final decision. WE WILL
NEED YOUR HELP AGAIN IN THIS PERIOD).
So, that will leave us with no other alternative than
n Sunderland City Council will then make a
to ask the Local Government Ombudsman to
investigate following our initial correspondence.
decision

Other Action

q Surveys are continuing so that we have some

hard evidence of our own about parents’ and
carers’ opinions to support our objections to
the proposed closure
q MP Fraser Kemp has made representations to
Sunderland City Council on Gillas Lane’s
behalf although the reply shows no change of
mind by the council
q The 10 Downing Street Petition has reached
153 signatories. Please sign up if you haven’t
already done so.
q GLASS are talking to parents from the Hetton
Schools about possible joint action
q GLASS are also preparing a major objection to
the proposal during the statutory consultation
period

THIS IS NOT A SPRINT BUT A MARATHON. IT REQUIRES PATIENCE, STAMINA AND RESOLVE.
SAVE GILLAS LANE SCHOOL!