The future of education in Bromyard was up for debate last week at another extraordinary public meeting at the Queen Elizabeth Humanities College.
The meeting, which was held on Tuesday July 15, featured an address from the College’s chairman of governors Bill Evans and the college’s deputy head Mike Goodman and a question and answer session with Chris Bull, Herefordshire Council’s chief executive.
It was the second meeting on the issue following an emotive gathering in January, held hot on the heels of Herefordshire Council’s proposals to merge several primary schools in the area and relocate students from Queen Elizabeth to the Minster College at Leominster.
The plans were shelved in March although many in Bromyard remain concerned about the future for schools in the area, something which has prompted school officials and governors to work closer together.
An in-depth presentation from independent schools consultant Barry Bainbridge concluded that the Bromyard community faced some “difficult decisions” over the future of schooling in the area.
He put forward a number of possible solutions to the issue include a number of differing “federation” partnerships between local schools and even an “all-through school” for Bromyard, which would combine primary and secondary education.
The Mayor of Bromyard Jonathan Lester, who called the meeting, said: “The support of local community has shown that people care about local education provision. However, the issues that Herefordshire Council were trying to address have not gone away, they still insist that change is necessary.”
An update on the Bromyard schools ‘cluster’, a link set up between the College and the seven associated primary schools, from Pencombe Governor Mark Foster revealed that the final details were being agreed to form a new ‘Strategic Partnership’.
Meanwhile, speculation surrounding Head Teacher Adrian Long’s recent departure to the Minster College was rebutted by Chair of Governors Bill Evans.
He said: “Mr Long has been a passionate high performer and leader of the school. It’s probably true to say that without Mr Long’s work over the last three years we would not be having this meeting. He has been instrumental getting the primary schools and Queen Elizabeth to work together.”
He added that Mr Long would not be replaced immediately.
Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council Chris Bull said the current administration was committed to working with schools to find a workable alternative to closures.
He said: “We want to work with schools and with communities to find a solution for the education system in Bromyard, we are not going to come back to some top-down process. The challenges we face are real. We will support you in finding local solutions, there is no hidden agenda.”
