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Will St John's Infant School be saved from closure?

Medway Schools Under Threat
Medway Schools Under Threat

By Hayley Robinson

Campaigners will find out next week if a Chatham school will be saved from closure.

Medway Council’s Cabinet members are due to discuss whether or not to pursue plans to close St John’s Infant School when they meet at the St George’s Centre, Pembroke Road, Chatham Maritime, at 2.30pm on Tuesday, October 6.

St John’s Infants and Ridge Meadow, both in Chatham, and St Peter’s Infant School, in Rochester, were all considered for closure.

Members voted against closing the Rochester school and decided to press ahead with the closure of the two others when they met on September 17.

The decision was called in by six Tory councillors and discussed by the Children and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee which met on September 24 and recommended that Cabinet reconsider its decision in relation to St John’s.

With regards to Ridge Meadow the committee voted to take no further action.

Commenting on the decision chairman Cllr David Brake said: "The committee received representations from the head teacher and two parents from St John’s CE infant school who commented on the school’s high standards, its Ofsted reports, its support for pupils from ethnic minority groups, its drop in the number of surplus places and the lack of places within neighbouring schools.

"During the debate, members discussed these issues and also raised concerns around issues of transition.

"In the light of matters raised during the presentations and the debate the committee recommended cabinet reconsider its decision in relation to St John’s."

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