School now vital, say villagers

Parents from Fernwood say they are struggling to get their children into nearby schools because of a lack of places, and the need for a school in the village is greater than ever.

Some children from Fernwood, who are due to start school in September, still have not secured places at schools in Balderton or Newark.

A petition organised by the Fernwood and District Residents’ Association at the Fernwood Charity Fun Day on Saturday pressing for a school to be built, is to be presented at a meeting of Fernwood Parish Council on Monday. It will then be passed to the county council.

The chairman of the association, Mr Jim Gould, said the situation had now reached a point where residents were considering going to their MP, Mr Patrick Mercer, for help.

“We realise there are difficulties, but how long is it going to take?” he said.

Fernwood does not have a school as it was not deemed to be immediately necessary when the village was created, although one was included in developer’s plans for the future.

Nottinghamshire County Council said at the time that no school would be built until all primary school places in Balderton were filled.

Money was transferred to the county council from developer David Wilson Homes for such an eventuality.

A parent, Mr Alex Copgrave, said: “One of the main reasons our family moved to Fernwood was that we were told a school would be built. We were sold that dream.

“What I find galling is that the money has been set aside for a school.

“The places elsewhere are now full, so why can’t we build a school?

“Our child is being denied his basic educational right.”

The county councillor for Fernwood, Mrs Sue Saddington, said she had been pushing for a school in Fernwood for the past five years and was in regular contact with developers, residents and the county council education department.

“I am fully supportive of a school for the people of Fernwood,” she said.

“I am only sorry that the developers put it in their information ahead of time and people bought houses thinking it would be done tomorrow.

“Obviously if school places are now under pressure it needs to be a higher priority.”

In a statement, Nottinghamshire County Council said: “We are working with developers and the district council discussing the provision of school places in the area.”