Opposition to loss of iconic school frontage

I have spoken to a great many people, including students at the school, who are extremely excited about the investment but strongly object to the proposal to demolish the magnificent and iconic school frontage.

They have spoken in their hundreds, if not thousands, by signing petitions of objection.

Education of all our young people is something that is very close to my heart and as a parent I want nothing but the very best for my own children, all three of whom attend Maltby Academy, and it concerns me to read the flimsy statements of support for the proposals on the basis that this school is failing its young people as it struggles along in hazardous, crumbling buildings with pre-war facilities, lagging behind the rest of Rotherham.

Support from other quarters comes on the basis that car parking facilities will be made available to relieve congestion at weekends and through unfounded, sweeping statements such as “the majority of the children at the school want the building gone.”

Maltby Academy is not failing our children. GCSE results have improved at the school for the last six years and it now ranks fifth in Rotherham league tables for five good GCSEs or equivalent (2011).

The academy won the most improved school award for GCSE results 2008/2010. My own daughter achieved 15 top GCSE results, five A grades at A1 and is on track to achieve five top A-levels.

She submitted applications to five top-ranking universities and will take up her place at one of these later in the year, where she will study in buildings which far outdate the school buildings at Maltby, features that these institutions are proud of.

She will always be proud that she went to this school and I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the teachers who have supported her during her time here and who continue to teach my other children. I wouldn’t want them at any other school.

Does this sound like a school that is failing its pupils? In the proposed building works to the academy the building in question does not affect in any way the erection of planned new buildings or car parking facilities.

To support the demolition of a building which means so much, to so many, simply because it does not fit with an image of modern featureless development demonstrates a shallowness that is all too common in today’s throw-away society.

My own children learned of the proposed demolition of the school frontage when plans were unveiled and were never consulted, in much the same way that the community as a whole were never consulted.

To make suggestions that the majority of them support its demolition is completely unfounded.

In contrast, the few that I have spoken to are in disbelief that this building could be lost but I would never be so bold as to suggest that this forms a majority view without full and proper consultation of all Maltby students.

I have therefore placed my objections to these plans with RMBC, not because I am nostalgic about my old school, not because I do not care about the very best education for our young people, not because I am being told how to think by others and not because I am in the habit of objecting to progress within my community.

I was born in Maltby and have lived here all of my life and all too often our treasures are lost in the name of progress, leaving us with only memories and regrets.

I have never before either supported or objected to any planning application but truly believe that this building is more than the sum of its raw materials and is worth fighting for.

The cost to the community to lose this building will far outweigh any renovation costs and I ask that we as a community are given the opportunity to work with Maltby Academy to explore all options before a decision is made.

Objections to the planning application at this stage to allow further considerations to be made can be made at RMBC and on their website (planning application RB2012/0543) and petitions of objection are available to sign in many local shops and pubs.

Fiona Cleary, Ash Grove, Maltby.