All votes count in protest over school changes

THE six Hands Off Tamworth Schools candidates who stood in the county elections would like to take this opportunity to say a very big thank you to everyone who voted for us.

We were all delighted with the number of votes that we received – 1,848 in total.

With 1,848 protests against the current BSF proposals this should indicate to the county council officers, and newly-elected county councillors, that we need to look at the proposal and find the right way forward.

We know that the county council believe there is no public opposition to academies, but surely 1,848 of us have all sent a strong message that we do not want Landau Forte in charge of Woodhouse and all sixth form provision in the town.

We must still continue to contact our newly-elected councillors to make sure that they know our views.

We also implore you to support the staff at our high schools that are taking industrial action. Many have found this incredibly difficult, but feel they have no other way to show how detrimental they feel these plans will be to young people.

We must stand together to strive for the future education of all children.

You can also express your views to the Corporate Director of Children & Lifelong Learning, Peter Traves by email at peter.traves@staffordshire.gov.uk or by writing to him at Tipping Street, Stafford, ST16 2DH. BSF should improve the educational outcomes for all of the children in our town. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, we can't afford to get wrong.

Sue Phipps, Stephen Ferry, Rob Marsden, Brian Morris, Vicky Sanford, Carolyn Lang. http://www.freewebs.com/handsofftamworthschools/