The AGM of the Governing Body took place later. Seven nominations were received from the CSG of parents to join the Board. These nominations were all accepted and transitional arrangements are all in place.

The present governing body wishes the incoming board of governors body every success in their efforts to secure the long term future of the school.”

When the Governing Body announced with great regret that the school would be closing, it was inevitable and understandable that emotions would run high. This is a difficult and upsetting time for everybody concerned, especially our pupils.

Unfortunately, however, some individuals have in recent weeks chosen to channel their emotions into spreading defamatory statements about the Governing Body – both verbally and via the internet.

As you will be aware, the Governing Body was recently forced to demand that the Chetwynde Support Group remove libellous comments which parents had made about us on the CSG’s Facebook page. That page was rightly closed down and an unreserved apology was made to the Governing Body by the CSG for the defamatory statements which it had allowed to be published.
A new Facebook page run by Chetwynde parents has now emerged, on which the defamatory statements about the Governing Body have become even more serious. Comments from a group of people about a particular governor are libellous in the extreme; and we as a Governing Body now feel we have no alternative but to take action against these individuals. Even though the comments have since been removed, their publication and dissemination to a wider audience has taken place – and therefore entirely justifies a civil action for defamation.

The two parents and one former pupil in question are being contacted individually regarding this most serious matter. As some of you may be aware the courts are taking an increasingly robust approach to internet libel; and unfounded accusations and innuendo which bring a person’s good name into disrepute are rightly treated very seriously indeed.

The Governing Body is preparing to hand over to a new board of governors nominated by the Chetwynde Support Group later this week. This transition will take place if the bank approves the CSG’s business plan, and if the CSG has met its declared target of £500k raised and confirmed pupils for September 2012 of 225.

After the transition, the new Governing Body will of course have access to all the school’s documents. These will show that we, the outgoing Governing Body, have acted in the best interests of the school at all times; and that all governors have behaved professionally, ethically and with integrity at all times. The present Governing Body did not take the decision to close the school lightly. We assessed the business case and determined that a cash injection of £500k and a minimum of 255 pupils were required to keep the school open for one year. Further funding and increased pupil numbers would be needed thereafter to maintain a viable school.

Contrary to the comments now circulating on the Chetwynde parents’ Facebook page and in the wider Chetwynde community, the records will show that we have worked tirelessly and innovatively over recent years in our attempts to reverse the decline in pupil numbers and to manage the historical debt problems with which the school has been burdened for many years.

Chetwynde B Team won the Barrow Schools Netball B League having won every game. The B Team were in the toughest league at the Barrow Schools Tournament, playing Dane Ghyll A and St Mary’s Ulverston. They played some excellent netball but unfortunately did not progress to the finals.

Thank you to Friends of Chetwynde and Parents who raised over £300 at the tournament.

Daniel Young

I am writing to inform you that the Governing Body have unanimously agreed to resign as soon as possible. The present Governing Body feel that this will give the best opportunity to the Chetwynde Support Group to develop their ideas in their attempt to rescue the school. We recognise that the CSG has achieved a great deal in the last few weeks and continue to develop their business plan.

We have written to the CSG outlining the formal steps that we will need to go through.

At the present time, we are awaiting the report on the valuation of the school so that we can confirm that we are continuing to trade while solvent. We expect that this will be confirmed and will then commence an orderly transfer of the functions of the Governing Body to a new group nominated by the Chetwynde Support Group. There are, of course, some formalities to go through but we do not anticipate that this will cause any delays.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish the new Governing Body every success going forward and assure them of our goodwill at all times.

Yours sincerely

Dr Gerry Murray

Chair of Governors

FAQs Document from the Governors

• We have appointed a specialist solicitor to provide the necessary legal advice
• The solicitor will be issuing a confidentiality agreement to the Chetwynde Support Group (CSG) during the week commencing 23rd April.
• We have signed a contract to have the school site valued, this will take place on 24th April and we expect the valuation report within 10 days of that date
• Mr Collier has held a meeting with the LEA, this was attended by two members of the CSG. Mr Collier will continue to be the liaison between the LEA and the school.
• We have agreed to allow the LEA to conduct a financial review once the necessary documentation and scope of work has been agreed.
• We have agreed to give the CSG and their appointed representatives access to confidential information, at their request, in order that they can complete their business plan.

The governing body want to be absolutely clear about the information that will be available for review by the CSG and their appointed representatives under the confidentiality agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the following will be available;

• Staff contracts and salary details
• Confidential parent information
• Current parent debtors
• Current supplier debtors
• Aged parent debtors
• Aged supplier debtors
• Supply contracts to the school
• Current bursaries
• Current assisted places
• Current scholarships
• Budget information
• Management accounts

We would stress that this information will only be available to those covered by the confidentiality agreement and that the agreement prohibits the transfer of this information to anyone not covered by it. If you have any questions or concerns please email the school on info@chetwynde.cumbria.sch.uk

Mr Boyd