COUNCIL "SORRY" OVER SPECIAL SCHOOLS BLUNDER

25-01-2007

Birmingham education officials have apologised for misleading parents over the future of the city's special schools and giving the impression that closures were inevitable. They are insisting that the entire issue is still up for discussion.

Confused mums and dads - not to mention heads and teachers - could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. Not least because the council officially warned half a dozen schoolsin November that they might shutand in December it circulated a document called “A Strategy For Special Provision”. (See previous article here)

Tony Howell the strategic director with responsibility for this area was the first to say sorry, followed by the service director Chrissie Garrett, who promised: “There are no proposals to systematically close any of our special schools at hall.”

Their comments came at yesyerday's Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee which is launching an enquiry to oversee the entire consultation process on special needs education.

Parents were disappointed though when they were told they could not be represented on the enquiry itself - although scrutiny chairman Jon Hunt said they would be allowed to say their piece at two public meetings the city is organising.

Campaigner Jonathan Harris couldn't his hide disappointment, saying, “It's hypocritical of a committee talking about inclusion to exclude parents.”