Today marks the end of a consultation on plans for school reorganisation in Swanage that could see the only community school for 16 miles being closed. The BHA has been actively involved since the start of the process, supporting parents and other campaigners in their lobbying or and meetings with the local authority, and the campaign to save Swanage First School has attracted a great deal of local and national media attention.
Andrew Copson, Director of Education and Public Affairs for the British Humanist Association said:‘We were shocked when we found out that Dorset County Council had plans to close the only school in Purbeck area that does not discriminate on religious grounds, especially as the school is judged outstanding by Ofsted and lies at the heart of the local community. The reaction against the plan by parents, teachers and other Swanage residents has been impressive, including events and petitions that led to coverage in the Independent, TES and BBC. With even the Schools Minister reacting against the plan in his capacity as MP for the area, we strongly hope that the Council will take this chance to revise its plans.’
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For more information contact Andrew Copson on 020 7079 3584
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing the interests of the large and growing population of ethically concerned non-religious people living in the UK. It exists to support and represent such people, who seek to live good lives without religious or superstitious beliefs. The BHA has been involved in education for over forty years, producing resources for schools and promoting beliefs and values education that will be objective, fair and balanced and campaigning for all state funded schools to be inclusive and non-discriminatory.