CHAIRMAN QUITS IN SCHOOLS ROW

by GRAHAM TUTTHILL

    COUNTY councillor John Barnes has resigned as chairman of the governors at Dover Boys' Grammar School over his support for the proposal to merge the grammar schools on the former Castlemount site.
    Cllr Barnes, who represents Dover West on the county council and is a member of the education committee, has bowed to pressure from other members of the governing body who do not favour the move. He remains a governor.

    His public statements have also been at odds with those of head teacher Neil Slater who is adamant the school is "lean and fit" and can continue to grow successfully on its present site.
    That view has been supported by staff who, at a meeting last week, voted against a move to the Castlemount site.
    The boys grammar was the top state school in the area in the Department for Education exam league tables and has attracted a record number of inquiries from parents choosing a secondary school for their sons this September.
    Cllr Barnes resigned as chairman on Friday. Vice-chairman Suzanne Dawson, a governor at the school for more than two years, has taken over as acting chairman.
    Next week, the governors will meet to discuss grant-maintained status.
    Meanwhile, the dates of the public consultation meetings over the latest merger plans have been fixed.
    The first will be at the boys grammar school on February 22 and the second at the girls grammar school on February 23. Both are at 6pm.