THURROCK Council leader John Kent (and portfolio holder for education), cllr John Kent has gone on the record to put the council’s position in respect of the Harris Academy Secondary Free School.
Cllr Kent said: "Over the past two years I have been education portfolio holder at Thurrock I have gone out of my way to promote local schools and not to criticise the current national schools system.
"I don’t want to do so now – Thurrock’s schools and Thurrock’s schoolchildren deserve all the support and praise we can send their way.
But the stupidity of the current national system has put Thurrock Council in the firing line through no fault of its own, although I don’t doubt some people will try to blame us.
On Friday, Thurrock Council had to send out 85 letters to parents of young people who had applied to start school at the new Harris free secondary school in West Thurrock telling them the school is not going to be ready.
The fact the government delayed funding for the school and the planned land has now been sold elsewhere has forced this action.
The council had advised that the school, at this time, was not needed as there was plenty of capacity across the borough at the Year 7 level in our current schools.
"This advice was over-ruled but has two consequences.
"It means there are places for these children, but unfortunately because of the timing, for some parents those places may not be at schools where they had expressed a preference.
It is not an ideal situation for the parents, the children or the council. We had all been assured the school was to open in September this year.
Indeed both our MP and the Prime Minister himself believed it would open on time as both are quoted in a document extolling its virtues.
"I wonder if one part of our national government talks to another; obviously not."
