TIME is running out for people to make their views known on the proposed new primary school for Okehampton. The deadline for all comments on the proposals to be received is 5pm on Thursday, May 29. Prominent members of Okehampton's community are urging the public to support the bid from the Community of Okehampton Primary School for Excellence (COPSE). Town councillor Tony Leech and Okehampton's new mayor Kay Bickley have pledged their support to COPSE. Cllr Leech, speaking as a grandparent, has also voiced serious concerns and fears about the second bid, from the Big Wide Talk Archive School Foundation, to run the new primary school. Cllr Leech, who has declared a personal interest in the matter as he is part of COPSE, said: 'The recent presentation by the Big Wide Talk organisation made me realise even more that the process of obtaining bids from just about any outside organisation is flawed. 'It is yet another piece of legislation that has been imposed upon us by central Government. 'The BWT do not seem to have any experience in running schools and it is very clear that if they are successful, they will bring in people from their organisation to sit as governors to influence the way the new school's ethos is set up. 'I hope that everyone in the town will make their comments to Devon County Council loud and clear through this period of consultation. 'If you do not, it could have very long term implications for the schooling of our children and in my case, my grandchildren. 'COPSE has a wealth of educational knowledge within it and has not only got governors from the primary school and college in it, but also has the backing of community groups as well.' But Big Wide Talk hit back at the statements. Its director, Ann Jamieson, said: 'Our bid is an excellent bid by any standards. What we're doing is working within the rules and saying we have ideas and ways of working that have achieved the highest standards. 'We are fundamentally about, and at the leading edge of, working with parents for the best of the children, our principles and our practice are unassailable. 'Between us we have an excellent experience of running schools and children's centres — what we do is exactly what the children need. 'The children's commissioner for England has said our work is excellent and we would want to work with people within the COPSE group.' Cllr Bickley, whose background is firmly rooted in education as a headteacher and school inspector, believes that, while competition and diversity may prosper in urban areas, the same principals should not be applied to a rural community like Okehampton's. She said: 'Personally, I am all for the COPSE bid. We must look at having two equally good schools in Okehampton or we will get social and economic division. 'It is very important we keep the two schools federated and working together. It is important that what the COPSE group is doing is listened to. 'My feeling is that the people of Okehampton want to see a community school working with the existing school and not to have a division. 'I think BWT principles are admirable but there is a difference between that and the effective running of a school.' Cllr Leech added: 'Do not sit and wait with this one. If we don't do anything about the housing situation, we will end up with a lot of houses. 'If we ignore this issue, it could have long term implications to the education of the children of Okehampton and the surrounding areas that you can't just pull down.' To state your view write to Karen Crockwell, School Organisation, Room 120, CYPS, County Hall, Topsham Road, Exeter, EX2 4GQ, e-mail [email protected]">[email protected] or visit the website http://www.consultationfinder.com/devon">www.consultationfinder.com/devon. The deadline is 5pm on Thursday, May 29.
