After losing a gallant and well-argued case against closure Dilwyn was delighted to find its alternative application to survive as an academy approved by Lord Hill, Schools Minister. It planned to open in September but Herefordshire Education Department sent a delegation to DfE HQ in London specifically to sabotage this development. They persuaded Lord Hill that Dilwyn would not manage its finances in the longer term and were believed. Dilwyn opened as planned but of course in de facto 'independent' status. When seeking to restore its academy approval, having met all the required elements, the DfE refused saying independent schools are not allowed to apply. It is 'independent' only by force of circumstances. NASS has protested to the relevant Deputy Director at Sanctuary Buildings and hopes better news may yet arrive.
Herefordshire's motive for such malice towards a community that has worked vigorously and collectively in the cause of its children's education? The LEA has a policy to close every rural school under 65 on roll and is working one by one through the list. Dilwyn, with 32 pupils, faced its power in its turn. If Dilwyn stays open it sets a precedent for any others the LEA still plans to close.
The LEA put the usual argument to the adjudicator about small schools not being able to cope educationally despite massive evidence to the contrary and the adjudicator simply believed it, confirming his or her view that small schools ultimately could not cope. Such personal unsubstantiated opinion, in the face of the evidence, is simply against the principle of wholly independent adjudication.
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