Dan Rogerson MP for North Cornwall

North Cornwall’s MP, Dan Rogerson, has defended parents in St Tudy and St Mabyn, after a senior councillor implied their fight to save schools in both villages might not have ‘children at the forefront of their thinking’.
 
Challenged to welcome the result of a referendum held last week, where 97.3% of villagers backed the schools, Conservative Councillor Sally Bain told a meeting at County Hall, “I am not sure whether to say yes or no.”  She went on, “It is important to take a leadership role.”
 
Mr Rogerson is supporting the St Tudy and St Mabyn Action Group, and last week commended parents for getting a referendum.
 
Commenting he said,
 
“If Councillor Bain is seriously suggesting that parents in my constituency don’t have their children’s best interests at heart, I think many will see that as rather an insulting slur.
 
“Of course parents have children ‘at the forefront of their thinking’.  That’s why they want both schools to remain open, so that pupils in both villages get an excellent, local education.
 
“And it isn’t just parents who support the schools.  The whole community spoke with one voice last week, because everyone knows the loss of the schools would be a big blow not just for local education but for village life as well.”
 
Lib Dem Councillor, Jeremy Rowe, who posed the question at Council on behalf of residents in St Tudy and St Mabyn added,
 
“I was nothing sort of astounded that this Conservative councillor was not only unprepared to welcome the due process of local democracy after the referendum, but actually seemed to be saying the parents weren’t thinking of their children.
 
“What a cheek!”
 
 
Notes:
 
The full exchange between Cllr Jeremy Rowe (LD, St Issey) and Cllr Sally Bain (C, Cornwall Cabinet Member for Children) is below:
 
St Mabyn and St Tudy Schools
Councillor Rowe:  Does the Cabinet member for Children welcome the result of the recent referendum held in St Mabyn and St Tudy regarding the future of their schools?
Reply:          Councillor Bain
I am not certain sure whether to say yes or no to the referendum issue and hope that everyone involved in communicating with us about these schools has the children at the forefront of their thinking.  We must plan for future provision in the primary education sector.  It is well known that the numbers of children in primary education across the county has fallen and we need to work closely with schools and communities to ensure that the sector continues to be strong.  I welcome the strong engagement of the communities in St Mabyn and St Tudy regarding the future of their schools.  We positively listen to all contributions.  I know that our partners in the Diocese have done the same for these Church of England voluntary aided schools.  It is important to take a leadership role which includes understanding the various perspectives from headteachers, staff, governors and parents as well as the wider community.  There is a need to be clear that the primary purpose of this work must be ensuring that children have the highest quality learning experiences.  I look forward to working with the various communities to plan the future.