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Fears as school merges classes
Parents worried as school defends decision and says others may follow
A CASH crisis has forced a Tring school to merge classes and slash staff hours.
The move by Grove Road School has met opposition from parents and the school has held a special meeting to allay fears.
Head teacher John
Grubb says the changes are essential to meet its yearly budget and he says other primary schools have also struggled to balance their books.
Parents turned out for a school meeting on Monday evening (July 3) to find out how the cuts will affect their children.
Mr Grubb said: "We have had a number of concerns and questions from parents and we try to be as open as we can about it."
A mum from the school, who contacted The Gazette, said: "This can't be satisfactory and if it can happen at Grove Road School, it can happen across the district - is this not the thin end of the wedge and a way of cutting costs to hit Government targets? Don't our children deserve a full time teacher?"
A letter from Mr Grubb given to parents during the meeting said: "I would like to say that this solution is not desirable or preferred over our current class organisation but it is a practical solution to our budgetary difficulties."
Under the plans two unusually small classes at the school, which are now in Year Three, will be merged during afternoon lessons and taught by one teacher and a classroom assistant from September.
In the mornings, when literacy and numeracy is on the timetable, the classes will be separate and each taught by a dedicated teacher.
In the afternoons the children will merge as a group in one room, when deputy head teacher Fiona Masters will set the work. Then the two classes will be split into their own classrooms where they will be overseen by Mrs Masters or the teaching assistant.
Both of the classes has about 20 pupils, but normally classes at the school are made up of 30 youngsters.
Mr Grubb said: "There has been around 40 children in that year group for four years now and that has an ongoing affect on the budget.
"Until now they have been in two small classes and have had two teachers between both classes, but it is causing some budget difficulties. "
Working hours of some office and on-site staff at the school have also been cut to meet the annual budget.
Schools across the country receive funding from the Government based on the number of pupils attending the school.
The amount for infant and junior schools in Hertfordshire works out to be around £1,800 per pupil per year.
Mr Grubb said: "We had to make some budget cuts and we have done it in a way that we think is most effective. We are absolutely certain the children are going to have a good year."
Herts County Council spokesman Nuala Milbourn said education advisors at the county council were not aware of any other schools having budget problems, but Mr Grubb said: "I know this year there are quite a lot of primary schools that are finding it hard to balance their budgets."
Mrs Milbourn said: "To meet their budget Grove Road School is having to think quite creatively to fund the teachers it needs. It seems it has made quite sensible adaptations. I don't think it is by any means disastrous, it seems extremely sensible."
Tributes to man in bridge fall
TRIBUTES were paid this week to a young Tring man who died after falling from a footbridge over the A41.
Matthew Lovell, 26, of Grove Road, who played for Tring Athletic Football Club, died at Hemel Hempstead Hospital last Wednesday.
His funeral will be held at St Peter and St Paul Church in High Street, Tring at 11am tomorrow (Thursday) and he will be buried at Tring Cemetery, Aylesbury Road at about noon.
Matthew, a former Tring School pupil, was well known for his sporting ability. His PE teacher Rob Edwards said: “He was a reliable, friendly boy, who was good at sport and represented the school in football and cricket.”
Matthew's parents Carol and Brian are inviting the funeral congregation to join them at Tring Athletic's Grass Roots Stadium in Cow Lane after the funeral service for refreshments.
They have asked for flowers only from family members and would like donations to be made to the 24 hour support group The Samaritans.
Ref Poll quits internationals
TRING referee Graham Poll retired from international football tournaments last week, days after he made an embarrassing error in a World Cup match.
In an emotional statement, the Miswell Lane resident
announced on Thursday (June 29) that he will no longer referee games at
international level.
One week after he incorrectly showed a player three yellow cards in a game between Croatia and Australia, he told the Sky Sports network: “I've had three major championships – Euro 2000, World Cup 2002 and World Cup 2006. None have gone right or worked out for me for various reasons.
“For me, tournament football is over.”
He added that he had received messages of support from FIFA president Sepp Blatter and England star David Beckham.
Mr Poll is due to return to refereeing games in the Barclays Premier League this season.
Young artists get creative with town
PICTURES of Tring by youngsters in the town, will be selected to be made into special postcards.
Illustrations by schoolchildren will be judged during an exhibition on Wednesday, July 12.
The competition is being run by the ABC of Tring
Project, launched by Tring Together - the group dedicated to improving the town.
Ten schools have been divided into groups and allocated a letter and topic from the word Tring. Topics include T for theatre, R for Rothschild and I for Industry.
The best illustrations will be shown during the exhibition and a panel of judges will pick the best entry from each school.
Winning pictures will be used to make two Tring postcards, which will go on sale in September.
Project officer for Tring Together Jane Randrup said: “The project aims to encourage the community to appreciate the environment they live or work in by recognising and celebrating what makes it distinctive.”
The ABC of Tring Project will be launched by Tring Together chairman Peter Borg-Neal at the exhibition in the Victoria Hall, Akeman Street, from 6.30pm-9pm. Entry is free.
For more information on the project or the exhibition contact Jane Randrup on 01442 828920, jane.randrup@dacorum.gov.uk , or Peter Coneron on 01442 822303,
Injured policeman sues motorist for damages
A METROPOLITAN policeman from Tring, who escaped death when his motorbike was involved in a high speed smash, is seeking compensation of more than £300,000.
Police Constable Gordon Dickie, of Longbridge Close, was driving home on his Yamaha 750, when he collided with a car which had seconds earlier smashed into a stationary car and spun out of control on the A40 near Uxbridge on September 4, 2003.
He suffered several fractures including a compound fracture of his tibia, a broken pelvis, broken metatarsals and damage to his sciatic nerve.
PC Dickie spent seven weeks in hospital, where he had several operations to repair his pelvis and leg, which is thought to have been crushed between the motorbike and car.
The 45-year-old policeman said: “The only reasons I'm still here today is down to three things. I was fit at that time, an off-duty doctor stopped to help and I was wearing all the right gear - an expensive helmet, leathers, boots and a back brace.”
It is believed he was driving at about 70mph when the crash happened.
Since the accident, almost three years ago, PC Dickie has endured around 15 operations and is due to return to hospital next week for further treatment.
In a writ issued at London's High Court, Mr Dickie is seeking unlimited damages from Arnold Williams, of Wavell Gardens, Slough.
Previously an active scuba diving instructor and member of the Air Training Corps, PC Dickie still works for the Metropolitan Police Service, but is restricted to office work on the crime desk.
In the future, doctors say, he could suffer from arthritis, he will need a hip replacement and could become severely disabled. He already suffers from some memory loss.
PC Dickie said: “I don't know what my needs are going to be in the future. I might become severely disabled. I might even have to sell my house and move into a bungalow.
“I have to think to the future now. I have had to rely on my parents, who are pensioners, to look after me and do a lot around the house and garden.”
Although the writ does not specify the level of compensation sought it indicated that lawyers value the claim, if successful, as being worth more than £300,000.
It won't hurt to help
A SMASHING window display in Tring High Street has helped the Save the Children charity launch its latest campaign.
Shoppers and residents are being called on to back the organisation in its bid to help make sure children in Africa get vital medical attention.
The OUCH Campaign has been launched almost one year on from the G8 Summit, to urge world leaders to scrap health care fees across sub-Saharan Africa.
The charity estimates that 250,000 children across Africa would be saved each year if this happened.
Members of the public are being asked to stick OUCH plasters where everyone can see them, to support the life-saving cause.
Save The Children shop windows, including the one in Tring, have been covered with a special frieze that looks like the window has been smashed and then patched up with a giant plaster.
Special children's activity packs are on sale for 50p, which include an OUCH plaster, bags to fill with items to donate, such as mobile phones and inkjet cartridges, a sponsorship form and fundraising ideas.
When youngsters have completed all of the tasks within the activity pack, they can get a free OUCH kit bag.
Supporters are also being asked to text OUCH to 88600 to show world leaders and politicians they care.
Once a text has been sent you will be asked to send a picture showing where you've stuck your plaster, all images will be uploaded onto an online gallery.
Fun to get fit
A NEW kids club committed to beating child obesity is to be launched in Tring later this month.
Fitness fanatic and gym owner Mark Milsome will be running the Not For Grownups Kidz Club at Tring Rugby Club from Monday, July 24.
Youngsters will be put through their paces with lots of fun activities while learning about healthy living.
Mr Milsome, who runs Harveys Health and Fitness Studio in High Street, Tring, said: "I get tired of seeing all of the articles about the prevalence of childhood obesity and the increase in diabetes, but seldom see that anything practical is being done.
"I have set the club up, not as some sort of fat camp, but as an environment where children of all ages and abilities can enjoy the morning and have so much fun that it will not really be apparent that they are exercising."
The fun club will be held on weekdays throughout the school holidays from 8am to 11am and youngsters will also get breakfast, prepared by a nutritional expert.
Mr Milsome said: “The club will be trying to get the children into a fit and healthy lifestyle with an emphasis on fun.”
If the club proves to be a hit with youngsters, pre-school and after-school clubs could be launched in the town.
The school holiday club is open for children aged between four and 15 years old and costs £10 per session. For more information contact Mr Milsome on 01442 891385 or 07932150470.
Hostels chief to meet with campaigners
A TOP boss from the Youth Hostel Association is to meet with the people fighting to save Ivinghoe Youth Hostel.
YHA chief executive Roger Clarke will meet with campaigners on Thursday, July 20 following the announcement that the hostel will close next year.
The decision has faced fierce opposition from campaigners.
The YHA argues the hostel, which has around 6,000 overnight stays each year, is not a viable business because occupancy levels are too low and says the cost to upgrade the historic building would top £250,000.
Buckinghamshire County Council and district Cllr Avril Davies, who is heading the campaign against the closure, will meet with Mr Clarke along with other groups opposing the closure.
Ivinghoe Youth Hostel has been listed among 32 youth hostels, which has been earmarked to close to save thousands of pounds.
Fears for homes plan
A TRING councillor has criticised plans to double the number of houses destined for Dacorum, saying pressure to build homes in Hemel Hempstead will spill over into Tring and Berkhamsted.
During a Tring Town Council meeting on Monday, June 26, Cllr Nick Hollinghurst said he was “shocked and dismayed” when he learnt about new housing plans for Hertfordshire.
A panel of government inspectors brought in to assess housebuilding plans for the East of England says 12,000 homes should be built in the borough by 2021.
This is against the current total of 6,300 allocated to Dacorum in official plans.
Cllr Hollinghurst said: “The hugely complex and detailed East of England planning exercise has just been set aside by government inspectors. Four years of hard work by stakeholders and local authorities have been junked It makes a mockery of consultation and local democracy.”
The recommendations have been made by a government appointed panel tasked with assessing the Draft East of England Plan. The panel says the number of homes should rise from 478,000 to 505,500 by 2021.
Cllr Hollinghurst said: “If there is more pressure on Hemel Hempstead to find more than 6,000 extra houses there is going to be some difficulty, this inevitably is going to cause some pressure for housing to spill over into Berkhamsted and Tring
He added: “Make no mistake, Tring is under a very real threat and we must be prepared to robustly defend the integrity of our town.”
The panel's recommendations will be considered by the Government before final plans are published in the autumn, which will go out to public consultation.
Multi media take on art
AN ART exhibition with a difference will be on offer at Tring School next week.
Talented and gifted artists from Year 12 at the Mortimer Hill school have put together a special art display using cameras, video and computers.
English and media teacher Craig Norton said: “These are students who are planning to go on to be artists.
“It is quite exciting really. It is the kids who are doing it and we have given them a free rein.”
The exhibition is free to all and will be shown in the school's drama studio from Monday, July 10 to Wednesday, July 12 from 7-9pm.
The special art display has been funded by Tring Fine Arts Association, which gave the school a £500 grant.
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