Parents absent from meeting

A PUBLIC meeting to discuss the proposed closure of the Tideway School sixth form was attended by only TWO parents.

Ten minutes before the start of the meeting, on Thursday last week, it seemed likely it would be cancelled when none of the parents of the Newhaven school s 1,200 students had arrived.

Headteacher Adrian Money, East Sussex County Council assistant director of education Michael Nix and a handful of school governors waited anxiously in the school hall, laid out with up to 100 empty chairs.

Relief was visible on a number of faces as two parents and Newhaven Town Council member, Dennis Forsdike, arrived.

Despite the extremely poor turn-out the meeting went ahead.

Parents had been invited to the meeting to express their opinions on plans to close the sixth form and focus on developing Tideway as a specialist technology school for ages 11-16.

Headteacher Adrian Money put a positive spin on the evening.

He told the Express: 'I was a little disappointed that more people didn t attend the consultation evening. On reflection I would like to think that this is because parents of children at the school and staff at the school feel that they have already been consulted and that they understand the need to recommend that the sixth form closes.

'All parents were invited to the governors open meeting in October and the future of the sixth form was the main item discussed. I have also kept parents informed through our newsletter.

Cllr Forsdike attended as the representative of the town council.

He said: ' I was very disappointed parents did not support it. This could have a wide impact on the town so it was quite sad how many turned up.

'I understand some people have genuine excuses, but they cannot all be sick. It must have been very disappointing for the head and board of governors.

Trevor Smart, from Station Road, was one of the parents who attended.

He said the 6pm start may have made it difficult for working parents to attend.

'The time was awkward for a lot of parents. People are interested in their children s education. Parents evenings are always busy.

He added: 'This is a much bigger issue than the sixth form closing. There is already a lack of facilities for children in the town. If we lose the sixth form we will be alienating 16 to 17-year-olds even further. I urge people to make their opinions known.