Don’t Believe Everything You Read In The Papers

The Lancashire Telegraph recently published a very negative and very unfortunate front page story about the future of many of the high schools in East Lancashire.  The newspaper claimed that based on last years’ exam results, the government had threatened these establishments with closure if they didn’t up their game.

One of the schools named in the report was Marsden Heights Community College, as a governor of Marsden Heights, I am particularly concerned that the reputation of the college should be sullied in such a way.  Indeed, if one were to believe the protestations of the Lancashire Telegraph, just about every high school in its circulatory area would be under threat in one way or another.  Having spoken with our chair of governors, Rev Ed Saville and our head Mr Mike Tull, I can confirm that the college will not be closing.  If Marsden Heights Community College WAS threatened with closure, then the investment of £24.3 million in the new campus would not be taking place.  Indeed, it is expected that this years’ results will serve to illustrate the facts set out in the college’s OFSTED report that it is “Satisfactory and Improving.”

I would sincerely hope that local residents would not be swayed by this kind of negative reporting, and would instead recognise the hard work that is being put in day in day out by everyone involved with Marsden Heights to build on the success of the OFSTED report.  I would like to point out to prospective parents, that the college’s prospectus has been in very high demand, and that a second print run has now been ordered, proof if any were needed that the reality is very different from the Lancashire Telegraph’s reporting.