A Ray of Hope

Things have been very quiet since the consultation deadline passed on 9th February. But a copy of this letter has been passed to me. It was written on 21st March by MARIA EAGLE MP (Labour, Liverpool-Garston) to Mr David Rae.

Dear Mr Rae,

I wanted to bring you up to date on my actions further to you contacting me about the designation of the Blue Coat School under the 1998 School Standards and Framework Act.

You are aware of the intricacies of the situation and the arguments on either side. I have recently met with the Minister, Jim Knight, about the matter.

It was a constructive meeting and the Minister asked his officials to provide him with further advice at the end of it. Following that, he will contact me further and, no doubt, at the appropriate time will make a decision about the designation issue.

It is clear to me that there is an issue about the extent to which the Minister has discretion. However, it is equally clear that the legislation on designation was framed in order to determine how schools with different designations should go about the teaching of Religious Education. I do not believe that the legislation was framed to enable any organisation effectively to change the nature, ownership or character of a school by changing its designation. The Minister has a difficult situation to deal with but I was encouraged by his willingness to take on board the points that I was making and to listen.

I will contact you further in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Maria Eagle MP

MORE REACTIONS!  This page was added on 27th March. Since then I have received these two comments:

From Allan E (ex-pupil):

Hola from Spain. Without the School I may not have been here. Tony knows a little about my history. I wish all well but “we” will not defeat the powers that be! In UK you live with and are ruled by a Dictator. Go to the Queen. The Royal family will respond!

From Michael W (parent):

Hi Tony, I attended a dinner with Maria and Peter Hain on the Friday prior to her meeting and raised the matter with her. She was very positive. However in his speech Peter Hain praised Maria for the part she had played in dismantling the grammar school system in Northern Ireland! That takes a little of the gloss off her otherwise supportive letter.

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It has no official connection with the Liverpool Blue Coat School.