Council takes action over school problems

Date published: 24 September 2005

Pupils of Brownhill Special School, Rochdale, will be educated away from the school for some weeks, starting on Monday (26 September).

Some of the 48 pupils will have lessons at home, provided by Brownhill staff, and some will go to alternative schools.

Council staff will work with the school to improve arrangements and support for pupils with the aim of resuming lessons at Brownhill as quickly as possible.

Educational welfare officers will also provide support to the pupils and their families during the time they are not at school.

Rochdale Council has temporarily suspended lessons at Brownhill as a result of concerns about the management of the school and the quality of the overall education offered to the pupils.

Mr Terry Piggott, the Council's Executive Director responsible for Children, Schools and Families, said: "The Council, in its role as the local Children's Services Authority, has a responsibility to intervene where there are concerns that a school is not meeting the needs of pupils or where it is putting them at risk.

"We have taken this action at Brownhill because we believe the standard of provision there at the moment is not good enough.  I am sure that with support Brownhill will be back on track soon."

Brownhill Special School, in Heights Lane, Rochdale, provides for pupils aged from 10 to 16.  It has pupils from all parts of the Rochdale borough.

The school has a total of nine teachers, including the head and deputy head, plus 11 teaching assistants.  There are also support staff responsible for administration, lunchtime supervision, catering, cleaning and caretaking.