Blue Coat parents urged to fight C of E 'takeover'

Jan 9 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

AROUND 300 angry parents packed into Blue Coat School’s main hall last night to hear of the latest plans to stop it becoming an official Church of England school.

They were urged to lobby their local MPs to take up the case with Education Secretary Alan Johnson and prevent a “hostile takeover” of the Wavertree grammar school by the Diocese of Liverpool.

So far, more than 800 parents, friends and former pupils have contacted the school to express their support for the status quo to be maintained, with only six in support of the Church’s proposals.

Kevin and Helen Parr’s 13-year-old son Edward attends the school. Mr Parr said: “The great thing about Blue Coat is its emphasis on multi-cultural Britain, and we believe a takeover by the Church would compromise that and would impose one faith on the school.

“It seems odd when the Government says it doesn’t want to see an increase in faith schools, and yet they’re now trying to impose one on the school when it isn’t required.”

Education Secretary Alan Johnson has already announced that he was “minded” to support the diocese in its plans. The school has until February 9 to put forward its appeal to the Department of Education.

The school’s headteacher, Sandy Tittershill, told last night’s meeting: “I am astonished and shocked that we are here tonight considering this business.

“I have been here for 41 years and not a single person has ever suggested to me that this is a Church of England school, as it clearly is not. We are at the heart of choice and diversity in Liverpool, and the city needs the school as it is.”

Cllr Paul Clein, Liverpool’s executive member for childrens’ services, said the city council was seeking all-party support for a letter to be sent to Mr Johnson opposing any Church takeover of the school. Ged Jollliffe, chairman of the school’s parents association, said afterwards: “The meeting got quite heated, with a couple of the parents saying this should never happen.