Campaigning for One Secondary Education and Training Hub for Whitby and District

“Let’s put educational principles

before

financial expediency”

David Bradley

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Before and After

• From 1974 Whitby had two 11-14 schools (Eskdale and Caedmon) and one 14-19 school (Whitby Community College). The three sites accommodated nearly two thousand students. In 2010 there were over 300 students in the Sixth Form even though the 11-16 student population had reduced to about 850 students. It was becoming obvious that the reducing student population would not provide sufficient funds to maintain three buildings.
• In 2014 Whitby Community College and Caedmon School amalgamated and became Caedmon College Whitby. The former Caedmon School was modified for the Sixth Form.
• In September 2024 the secondary schools in Whitby were amalgamated and Eskdale School was closed and boarded up. The new “Whitby School” occupied two buildings divided by a main road and there were 81 students in the Sixth Form and approximately 832 students in the 11-16 age range. The former Caedmon School became the Airy Hill site for Years 7 and 8 and the former Whitby Community College became the Prospect Hill site for Years 9-13.

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Correct Analysis but Incompetent Management of Change.

• Change imposed from ‘above’.
• Consultation in name only.
• Stakeholders treated with contempt.
• Frequent changes in leadership.
• Standards plummeted.
• Closure of Eskdale became the focus – Judicial Review?

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Fundamental �Problems

1. The decision to close Eskdale caused a national public outcry not least because the school had been saved from closure in 2016 by a successful campaign by students, teachers and the local community.
2. The decision to approach the Local Authority (North Yorkshire Council (NYC) with a view to amalgamating all of the schools and closing Eskdale was made by four governors – was this enough? NYC carried out the statutory consultation process, but many members of the community viewed it as “a done deal”. Although there were many objections none of them seemed to be ‘weighed’ in the final decision by elected members.
3. Although the changes were supposed to be about addressing standards; these major changes were driven by the need to balance the books in the short and medium term.
4. What about the long-term future?

• Whitby Secondary Reorganisation?
• None of the three sites were valued.
• No audit of facilities or skills.
• No strategic plan for Whitby based on needs and sound educational principles.
• No strategic plan for the sale/disposal of surplus buildings.

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“Making Do”

• Balance the books.
• Don’t get any fancy ideas.
• Keep the stakeholders (children, teachers, parents and the community) in the dark because we know best.

Where was the vision for the future?

Parents want the best for their children but

the ‘plan’

for Whitby was devoid ambition.

Whitby Community Network

“We Are Where We Are!

Let’s work with the school, the local authority and the community to create something new, ambitious which meets the needs of all of our young people.”

Education Sub-Committee

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Jane Warburton

Bob McGovern

Noel Barratt

Dave Bradley

One School on One Site.

The Work of the Sub-Committee

• Ongoing discussions with the Chair of Governors and senior leaders for the last 18 months.
• Online discussions with the Leader of North Yorkshire Council (Carl Les) and the Education lead (councillor Annabel Wilkinson).
• Face-to-face meeting with our local MP Alison Hume.
• Several informal meetings with local parents.
• Production of a Business Case for a new or significantly enhanced school on the former Caedmon School site.

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Our Requests

• Eskdale School to be securely boarded up.
• Request to Secretary of State to sell the Eskdale School site and use the capital receipt to enhance provision at the new Whitby School - £2-3million?
• Request to approach Secretary of State for additional funding following the effective reorganisation of secondary education in Whitby.
• Request for long-term, permanent arrangements for the leadership of Whitby School .

Our Concerns

1. The urgent need to improve the former Caedmon School site (Airy Hill) so that all students can access their education from one site and not have to cross the main road. The former Whitby School site could be sold for affordable housing and sheltered accommodation because of its proximity to our town centre and bus/rail services.
2. Enhanced provision for young people with special educational needs.
3. The viability of maintaining a Sixth Form? Perhaps the development of a Skills Centre which provides qualifications in Caring, Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism is more appropriate?
4. The need to quickly change North Yorkshire’s Home to School Transport Policy so that our traditional catchment is preserved, and Whitby School is not further depopulated.
5. We believe that Whitby School should urgently explore the possibility of academisation because it is patently obvious that the local authority does not have the capacity to improve and maintain educational standards at Whitby School.

Thank you for listening to me.

Now, I’ll listen to you.