Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith

EDM number 512 in 1992-93, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 15/07/1992.

That this House questions the actions of the governors of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, Cumbria, who have resolved to change the status of the school to become 11-18 age range, three form entry, with selection; notes that this decision will totally undermine secondary education in other parts of Cumbria; recognises that it will reduce the perceived status of Ullswater High School, lead to the creaming off of pupils from Keswick and Cockermouth schools and will reduce the viability of comprehensive education in the county; notes that Mr Fay, the headmaster of Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, despite being asked to do so in the course of correspondence with the honourable Member for Workington, would not give them an assurance that selected pupils would not be drawn from outside the school's present catchment area; recognises that the claim that priority will be given to pupils in the catchment area means nothing, given the governors' resolution of 3rd June, that 'pupils will be selected on the basis of their aptitude and interest in the academic nature of the education offered at the school', which means that, should the quota of children adjudged to have such 'aptitude' not reside in the area, some will be brought in from outside the catchment area; calls on the governors of the Queen Elizabeth Grammar School to be more frank and to stop seeking to damage the interests of wider secondary education in the county.

This motion has been signed by a total of 1 MPs.