Proposal to Build a Free Secondary School and an Enlarged Primary School on Rokeby Fields

A group called SHARE, Sustainable Hillside and Rokeby Education, with the slogan 'Protecting Rokeby to Protect Rugby' has been formed to campaign for a new secondary school where it is required, in the north of Rugby (north of the West Coast Main Railway Line) where there is only one secondary school, not in the south where we already have three secondary schools and two selective secondary schools.

SHARE suggests that if you are of a similar mind you can help in these ways:

• E-mail the local papers with a letter for their letters page. Send your thoughts to editorial@rugbyadvertiser.co.uk andeditor@rugbyobserver.co.uk.

• The best way to write to our district councillors, county councillors and MP is by using the website www.writetothem.com. If you type your postcode into the box you will be given a list of your representatives and you can email them directly from the website.

• Write to or email Rugby Borough Council: Richard Holt, Principal Planning Officer and Rob Back, Head of Planning and Recreation (rob.back@rugby.gov.uk) We would like them to object to the school buildings when Warwickshire County Council ask their opinions.

• Cllr. Colin Hayfield heads up the County Council's education and learning teams. He has said that the schools development is "good news for everyone". If you don't agree with this, let him know by emailing him at cllrhayfield@warwickshire.go.uk.

Don't forget to sign the SHARE petition - go to www.change.org and search for 'Rokeby', or request a paper petition via email.

If you would like to keep in touch with the campaign via email SHARE asks you please to send your contact details to <protect.rokeby@gmail.com> and they will add you to their mailing list. They will not send your email address to any third parties and no-one else on the mailing list will see your address.

SHARE say that if you would like to help the campaign by delivering newsletters, writing to councils and trusts for information, or donating small amounts of money towards printing any leaflets, please contact them via email or on Facebook.

It appears that Rugby Free Secondary School (RFSS) are claiming on their web site that the Secretary of State has signed a funding agreement with them. We have asked the Education Funding Agency (EFA) how this could have happened when RFSS do not appear to have carried out a Section 10 Consultation which is required before a funding agreement is signed. We have been told we will be given a reply shortly.

RFSS has stated that it will take in 120 pupils in September this year. They will be taught in the old infant school buildings on Anderson Avenue. Before they can do this the buildings require extensive refurbishment in order to put right eight years of neglect and to alter the facilities in the school to suit secondary age pupils rather than much younger infant age pupils.