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Post by Epi on Jan 4, 2009 6:15:35 GMT 9.5
An MP has questioned why a new £4.7 million school has dropped the word "school" from its title because it has "negative connotations"
Sheffield's Watercliffe Meadow is to be called a "place of learning" instead of a primary school.
Local MP Richard Caborn said: "I'm always open to new ideas but the reality is education is about preparing young people to live in the real world. I just don't think the case has been made to drop the word school to a place of learning. I don't know why they have done it."
The decision was defended by headteacher Linda Kingdon. She told The Sheffield Star: "We decided from an early stage we didn't want to use the word 'school'.
"This is Watercliffe Meadow, a place for learning. One reason was many of the parents of the children here had very negative connotations of school. Instead we want this to a be a place for family learning, where anyone can come.
"We were able to start from scratch and create a new type of learning experience. There are no whistles or bells or locked doors. We wanted to de-institutionalise the place and bring the school closer to real life.'
Councillor Andrew Sangar, Sheffield City Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Lifelong Learning, said: "It's a school, we consider it a school and that's how we refer to it.
"How a school chooses to manage and refer to itself is a matter for the board of governors and the community it serves and we're relaxed about that."
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Post by Cullyn Of Cerrmor on Jan 4, 2009 8:53:59 GMT 9.5
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Post by Chips on Jan 4, 2009 10:54:37 GMT 9.5
Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun
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