Victoria Atkins MP voiced concerns over the future of Monks’ Dyke Tennyson College in Mablethorpe, following the proposal of its Governing Body to close the Mablethorpe site.
The Governing Body of Monks’ Dyke Tennyson College proposed to close the Mablethorpe site and transfer pupils to the Louth site. In response, Lincolnshire County Council commissioned a report to investigate possible solutions to keep the Mablethorpe site open. The County Council considered the report at a meeting on Friday 24th July.
Victoria said:
“I am greatly concerned to hear that the future of Monks’ Dyke Tennyson College in Mablethorpe may be in doubt.
I have discussed the problems facing the school with the Deputy Leader of the County Council, County Councillor Patricia Bradwell, and have been assured that no decision will be made until after the Public Consultation in September. I encourage parents, students, staff and residents to contribute to that Consultation.
All options must be examined before a decision is made. I will be making the point that a good school attracts families – and prosperity – to the area. However, standards at the school must improve for that to bear true.
Falling exam results and pupil numbers have taken their toll. Following last summer’s GCSE results in English, the Department for Education has ordered the school to improve its academic standards. According to the report, the majority of parents of secondary age children in Mablethorpe (59%) choose to send their children to schools outside Mablethorpe.
I have been told that the school did not write to parents and staff to inform them of the meeting on 24th July. I will be writing to the Chairman of the Governors of Monks’ Dyke Tennyson College asking for an assurance that they will keep parents, staff and pupils fully informed of any developments from now on.
Children in Mablethorpe deserve a good education: we must make sure that this process delivers that.”