22/04/2025
As a parent who feels passionately about keeping Henry Cort community college open, I am saddened to report HCC have decided to go ahead with a closure and relocate to the new site in Whiteley for Sept 2027.
I, along with many other parents are really concerned with this decision, due to the impact to our children. I have adults who attended this school, many years ago and I now have an 11 year old, who is signed up for Henry Cort.
1000+ responded to the 1st phase of the consultation and sadly only 140 in the 2nd phase, with only 104 supporting Henry Cort. Only 33 parents went to the consultation in person. Fareham Academy and Cams Hill currently have 42% of children out of catchment, so that will be looked at in more depth, to squeeze Henry Cort kids in if needed. Still lots of work to do for transportation, including those who will be late for school. If Henry Cort were to stay open, there would be no teachers, as they're all relocating to the new site and funding would go dramatically down, so will impact on education. Only 1 of the committee stood against the closure and that was Liberal Democrat Prad Bains.
It’s a known fact that the catchment area for Henry Cort is the most deprived area of Fareham and people who live in this area can send their children either on foot or by pushbike in order to get to school. They will not be able to do that once they have to attend Whiteley. This will incur unaffordable expense to the residents and as such, I can foresee a greater school absenteeism from the pupils as a result.
It has been said via this consultation, that if the absenteeism increases that all pupils will be delivered an education and they, HCC, will ensure that happens, how are they going to ensure this happens? They cannot manage that now as it is, let alone in the future.
Liberal Democrats wanted Henry Cort community college to remain, due to its position in the most deprived area of Fareham. We were going to fight even harder in May, but as you're aware these elections have been cancelled, not by the Lib Dems I might add.
This only proves to me these consultations are only lip service, because 72% voted to save Henry Cort.
What is education going to look like once Welbourne and any other developments, going to look like for our children?
These are the people who have been elected into these positions, in the hope they will do the right thing by the residents.
The Liberal Democrats do listen and more than happy and in fact, do fight for it's residents, Wates House is a classic example.
We need to get into a position of power, to overcome these shocking decisions made by the Conservatives and Labour parties.
I cannot believe 72% of you voted to keep Henry Cort Community College and were all ignored.
It appears that democracy can only be found in the dictionary
