Where will David Lister pupils go?
Parents of pupils at David Lister School have voiced concerns that teachers will soon begin to leave "en masse" if its planned closure in 2012 goes ahead.
They are also concerned about the lack of places in east Hull schools should it close early.
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WIDESPREAD ANGER: Parents vent their anger at the proposed early closure of David Lister School at a public consultation last month.
The school, in Rustenburg Street, was earmarked to close in 2015 under Building Schools for the Future (BSF).
But a lack of public confidence since it slid into special measures in 2008, coupled with just 41 first choice applications to the school this year, has forced the council to re-evaluate plans.
A parent who did not wish to be named told the Mail he believed teachers would start to leave at the end of the school year.
He said: "I know parents who are trying to get their children into different schools.
"I have been told teachers are going to leave en masse. I have already made inquiries about moving my children but have been told that the schools I want to get them in are oversubscribed."
Many parents had been keen to secure a place at Malet Lambert School, in James Reckitt Avenue.
However, the school is always oversubscribed, with the latest figures showing 785 applications for just 280 places.
As revealed in the Mail last month, parents expressed anger at the early closure plans.
If the cabinet backs proposals to close it in 2012, pupils currently in year seven will have to move at a critical time in their education.
Parent Tony Gordon, 45, a refuse collector for Hull City Council, said: "I am concerned that there is not a lot of choice.
"I saw the figures in the Mail this week about over subscribed schools and I was quite amazed at how many do not have spaces."
Parents had been concerned about a lack of space at Archbishop Sentamu Academy should David Lister close early.
However, officials say once the new school is opened in 2011 in Preston Road, there will be an extra 100 places per year group, which will absorb the majority of David Lister pupils.
11 Comments
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by CHRIS, Yorkshire
Thursday, March 04 2010, 2:33PM
“In answer to the headline.
I think the long term destination is the dole or jail.”
by Sarah, East Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 12:52PM
“I live in the David Lister catchment area my husband and myself both work and have done since leaving school in 1982 and 1984 respectively, I went to South Hunsley and my husband went to David Lister, please do not assume that all people who live in the catchment area are 'chavs' etc we are hard working decent people who just happen to live in the catchment area, o/k I hope my children do not have to go to that school but at the end of the day I always say a school is only as good as the child who wants to learn, you can send a child to the best school in the country but if they have the attitude of not wanting to learn they will not. I have friends whose children have been to Lister and are now working in good jobs they wanted to learn and knuckled down and did that even when the school had a bad reputation! Please have a thought for the pupils and their parents who must be extremely worried about what the future holds. I have to apply to schools in Oct this year for one of my children and the thought is very daunting!”
by Michelle, hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 12:42PM
“Why should Archbishop take all the scum. The new facilites are going to be amazing and if the appearance of most of the Lister kids is anything to go by the new school will be wrecked in weeks. The pupils should be spread across other city schools who have space.”
by Georgia, Swanland
Thursday, March 04 2010, 12:37PM
“Kirsty, it isn't so much as spreading ignorance. One only has to frequent the ghetto that is Holderness Road at lunchtime and witness these future "lawyers". I think that speaks for itself.”
by M, Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 12:19PM
“Well said Kirsty, I agree with what you have said, some people are just plain ignorant and immature by the sounds of there comments, you cannot judge all children as the same, ok some do make mistake which hopefully they learn by it, as for the Malet Lambert School, yeah they do have a high pass rate in most exams, which the pupils are pushed into getting, some causing much disstress for them to achieve there goals, HCC should build upto date schools that will accomadate all the children that need relocation.”
by Kirsty, East Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:58AM
“Dave, Georgia and Billy, its people like you who breed and spread ignorance and hate, you ought to be ashamed. I assume you are adults with children and i'm guessing your kids are perfect. You cannot judge a whole school based on a minority of the kids who go there. That would be like me and many others saying all your family members are ignorant fools.”
by Billy, hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:43AM
“We do not want these animals at Archbishop Sentamu Academy”
by Georgia, Swanland
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:00AM
“I do hope the authority has had the foresight to install a maternity wing in the new school? David Lister is the only school I know where the uniform is available in maternity sizes and a pram shop at the top of the street offering a bulk buy discount. For once though Hull CC has got it right in closing it down.”
by Karen, East Hull
Thursday, March 04 2010, 10:00AM
“I have 2 children at David Lister and I am pleased with the education they have received. As for moving them to Malet. This school is not all it is cracked up to be. You only have to follow the children on Friday lunch time from the Ings market or across morrisons car park. I would not put my child in that school even if I was offered a place there.”
by Ex Lister, and PROUD
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:15AM
“Very mature Dave, let me go and pass your comments on to some of my friends; a lawyer, a couple of teachers, several business owners and senior managers in their chosen fields. We are ALL ex Lister students!”