Headteacher of Peterborough school 'confused' and 'bewildered' as Werrington Fields fence row continues

The Headteacher of Ken Stimpson Academy has expressed his confusion at the continued delay to fencing off an area of the school’s playing field and has appeared to rule out any chance of compromise with residents.

In a letter addressed to school parents, Damian Whales said that the school and the Four Cs Academy Trust would continue to work hard provide its pupils with the best possible facilities “which will soon include access to the school playing field.”

The school's pupils has not allowed its pupils access to the shared use fields for the last five years due to safeguarding concerns.

The trust is seeking to fence off an area of the Werrington Fields equivalent to the size of eight football pitches but many residents are challenging both the size of the requested area and the need for it.

Peterborough City Council’s cabinet voted last Tuesday (October 15) to send the issue to a special full council meeting in November to allow all members to voice their opinions and decide the matter.

Mr Whales, however, has insisted that the land must be fenced off regardless of the opinions of councillors due to communication from the Department for Education.

In his letter, he said: “Annoyingly, we are still no further with the instillation of the fence. I remain in a state of bewilderment behind the ongoing delays.

“The debate now goes back to full council in November, where equally I remain confused over what will be debated as the information seems very clear.

“The public report confirms that the land is educational, the council has a duty to secure the lease to the school, the size of the area is appropriate, the council has no power to reduce the size of the land to be leased and that whether a fence is needed or not is determined by the trust and the Department for Education.

“We have also received a letter directly from the Department for Education confirming: the land is educational, the size of the land should be the whole of area C, a fence needs to be installed by the council, a reduction of size will not be supported and has been refused previously.

“During the council meeting, the legal team verbally confirmed that the land is educational, there is no covenant, they can’t reduce the size leased, the decision to fence or not is not one they can make. The only thing they have to do is secure the lease with the academy.

“I have further clarified no houses are going to be built, the school will make no money from any community lease agreement that goes via Vivacity in the same way the sports hall works, the cricket and football community use will be determined by the community clubs that want to use it.

“The only thing the school is trying to do is fence the school field and secure it for the school students.

“A compromise keeps being suggested; far clarity any reduction is size would need to be agreed by the Department for Education, who have already said no.

“Even if there were to be any conversation around ‘compromise’ the school and the Trust would need to request this reduction- which it will not do as the land is educational as should be used by school children.

“I am continuing to ensure that children are attending the best possible school with the best facilities, which will soon include access to the school playing field.”

A date is yet to be set for the meeting but it is expected to take place in November.