Just heard on the radio that Waltheof school is being knocked down!

Apparently they're making way for a 'City Campus'.

The council spent approx 5million building the thing approx 5 years ago and now decide it's cheaper to knock it down and rebuild another than to refurb it!!

Madness.

:loopy:

According to the Star, the new building will be paid for by the Christian Trust which is taking over the school. Once this happens the council will have little to do with it.

The Star article is here (http://www.sheffieldtoday.net/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=58&ArticleID=1540853):

The majority of the funding for the school comes from central government (our taxes) and a recent report announced that a large percentage of the organisations running these academies had yet to come up with their share (up to 10% & tax deductable) of the funding!

After Waltheof School burnt down in ’98 I remember my company receiving a begging letter from the council urging us to contribute to the rebuilding fund, the way it was worded implied that the coffers were bare and without private companies donations they could never rebuild it to its former standard.

Imagine my surprise a few years later when I came across a summary of the council meetings for that period and found out the building was insured for, if memory serves me correctly, three million pounds which was paid in full by their insurers, nevertheless the council decided they wanted something better on the site so an extra £2M was raised to build a “centre of excellence” (or whatever they call these white elephants)

Now its impending demolition is announced just one month after the local elections, the council may be rubbish with other peoples money but you can’t fault their timing.

I cant see the point in knocking it down and rebuilding. The budget is mainly being met by central govt so yes is being paid so by us. The trust group obvioulsy have issues with the design of the current school but are not being honest in saying what is wrong.

I oftewn wonder how thsi will work though, a school under a Christain trust with a large % of pupils being Muslim??

madness indeed, since 1970 millions of pounds must have bin flushed down the pan.

edited post

It's called the 'City Academy' now isn't it? Me niece goes there.

Mind, if I were there now, I'd be excluded, theres no way you'd see me in a blazer 'n' tie! :rolleyes:

[EDIT] Seen redrobbo's post below, tis the 'Park Academy'

Yes I am very curious about this to, how will they integrate muslim kids into a christian trust school, they cant just turn around and say no or can they?

Park Academy (which has now replaced Waltheof School) and Springs Academy (which has now replaced Myrtle Springs School) are both run by United Learning Trust (ULT). ULT is a subsidiary charity of the not-for-profit charity, the United Church Schools Trust (UCST) and shares with it the objective of managing schools which offer students a high quality education based on Christian principles of service and tolerance.

Whilst its ethos originate from Christian principles, ULT operates a non-denominational policy at both Academies. They also adher to the Sheffield City Council's School's admission policy.

I attended the burying of a time capsule on the site of the new building being erected at the Springs Academy. The local vicar gave a blessing, and a local churchleader performed a small Christian ceremony of scattering mustard seeds. A major Academy sponsor also attended, who happens to be a Muslim.

There is no conflict of interest in ULT operating an Academy with children of different faiths, denominations or none at all. Indeed, I believe that one of their Academy heads in another city is a confirmed atheist.

So will the school be teaching creationism?

So will the school be teaching creationism?

No!

When I was approached as a city councillor about having an Academy in my ward, it was one of the first questions I asked!

ULT should not at all be confused with the Vardy Foundation. Had the Vardy Foundation been the sponsors, then the Academies would not have received my political support.

madness indeed, since 1970 millions of pounds must have bin flushed down the pan.
Do you know which one. It could come in handy when I convert my entire street to a block of 'city living' flats and block everyone else's view. :D

Under this Labour government we find that schools are being built on tick (under the Private Finance Initiative): to be paid for in a generation or so's time, or the running of them is contracted out to creepy religious organisations. It seems that Labour is unable to finance and run a proper state education service.

All very ironic considering the Labour government has been in power for nearly ten years and its previous self-proclaimed priorities were "education, education, education".

It's still going to put a christian slant on the school and teaching at a time when I think we should be going to the opposite direction

It's still going to put a christian slant on the school and teaching at a time when I think we should be going to the opposite direction

Are you aware that one of the major financiers of this ULT project is the Iranian philanthropist, Mahmoud Khayami, who just happens to be a follower of the Islamic faith?
Would that be "opposite" enough?

The new uniform is nice is makes them look really smart

Are you aware that one of the major financiers of this ULT project is the Iranian philanthropist, Mahmoud Khayami, who just happens to be a follower of the Islamic faith?
Would that be "opposite" enough?

Thank you cgksheff. This was indeed the very Muslim that I referred to in my earlier post.....

I attended the burying of a time capsule on the site of the new building being erected at the Springs Academy. The local vicar gave a blessing, and a local churchleader performed a small Christian ceremony of scattering mustard seeds. A major Academy sponsor also attended, who happens to be a Muslim.

To see people of different faiths (i.e., Christian and Muslim) and no faith (I am myself an atheist) working together to provide one of the new academies in Sheffield gives a positive message about how we can all work together for the betterment of schoolchildren attending this particular academy.