Opponents protest at Academy plans
Apr 15 2009 by Neil Mckay, The Journal
STAFF, governors, parents and pupils from a popular secondary school staged a protest yesterday against plans to merge it to form an academy.
Around 40 protesters turned up outside County Hall, Durham, yesterday lunchtime to voice their displeasure at plans to close Belmont School Community Art College.
Durham County Council wants to replace Belmont and Durham Gilesgate Sports College with a 1,200-pupil academy co-sponsored by the council and the Durham Excellence in Education Partnership (Deep) – a consortium led by Durham University.
The county’s ruling Cabinet meets next Wednesday to discuss the issue. But supporters of Belmont argue that it is a successful school which does not need to change.
