EVERYONE'S had an opinion on Darwen's proposed new Academy.
Council officials and councillors, residents and former residents, government officers and lawyers, the Courts and the Press.
Everyone except Rod Aldridge's cat. And he's expected to file shortly.
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Everyone, that is, except for the people who really matter now. The kids.
What do they make of all the hoo-ha of the past four years? - yes, it's four years this week since the ambitious plan was first revealed.
I asked one of the students, 14-year-old Heather Stanley.
This is her report:
"I was in my last year at St Barnabas' and the time came to decide which secondary school I should go to.
"We decided that, although Moorland was struggling, local families like us should be supporting it. I haven't regretted it.
"There's been talk of the new academy throughout my entire time at Moorland.
"I'm now in the fourth year and everyone expected we would be in it by now.
"But it has all dragged on and on.
"The council are supposed to start building this summer and we are told it will take 15 months to complete, taking us into late 2009.
"Higher years in the school are very disappointed because we were supposed to get a fantastic new school and now we are not going to be there when it is finally ready.
"We are stuck with school buildings more than a little frayed around the edges.
"The toilets are awful.
"The council apparently won't spend money on the buildings because, they say, we will be in the academy soon.
"Which is what I've heard since day one and frankly I'm tired of hearing it.
"When I walk into Moorland now I am disheartened.
"The pupils, teachers and the staff who look after the place all work really hard to get the best out of it but they are fighting a losing battle.
"And even now we don't know for certain if the final legal hurdle has been overcome."
I asked Sammy Hunt and Mark Bury, head girl and boy, what they thought.
They told me: "When we first heard about the academy we got the impression we would be there for our final couple of years of secondary school.
"However, it is clear that the academy will not be ready as we are now in our final year.
"It is very disappointing.
"We have been asked if we would like to stay on to a sixth form on the Moorland site but we haven't had enough information yet to make a decision.
"The majority of our school year would have seriously considered going to the brand new academy.
"But staying at the same site until the new building is ready isn't a viable option, especially when there are established colleges offering a variety of further education.
"It's all very unfortunate."
The bulldozers have finally moved in to start flattening what's left of the triangle and the last few residents are moving out.
It's all a bit late for a lot of disappointed youngsters.
Posted by: A Parent, Darwen on 4:31pm Mon 18 Feb 08
It is good that this is now reported, but it is hardly news.
Anyone who had a child at Moorland knew how excited they were about having a new school and sixth form. And how bitterly disappointed they have been by the delay after delay after delay.
Hundreds of Darwen kids have now missed out on the chance of a brand new school and going to a sixth form in Darwen. But those people who wanted to play at 'bash the Council' could not be bothered to listen to them.
It is good that this is now reported, but it is hardly news.
Anyone who had a child at Moorland knew how excited they were about having a new school and sixth form. And how bitterly disappointed they have been by the delay after delay after delay.
Hundreds of Darwen kids have now missed out on the chance of a brand new school and going to a sixth form in Darwen. But those people who wanted to play at 'bash the Council' could not be bothered to listen to them.
Posted by: Realist, Darwen on 6:32pm Mon 18 Feb 08
The kids haven't missed out on anything as the academy will be employing the same teachers that have found it hard to run Moorland properly over the recent years.
These labour councillors will try and fill you with any old tripe if you'll swallow it
The Academy will ruin our town and I for one will not send my children to a school that does not have playing fields on site.
Moorland has.
The kids haven't missed out on anything as the academy will be employing the same teachers that have found it hard to run Moorland properly over the recent years.
These labour councillors will try and fill you with any old tripe if you'll swallow it
The Academy will ruin our town and I for one will not send my children to a school that does not have playing fields on site.
Posted by: Nigel St. Hubbins, Darwen on 8:23pm Mon 18 Feb 08
I take it then, that those turfed out of their homes have been living the life of Riley !!!
[quote]The kids haven't missed out on anything as the academy will be employing the same teachers that have found it hard to run Moorland properly over the recent years.[/quote]
And now they have to try and get to school in the centre of town, which we all know of course is a free flowing traffic area, so no problem there then !
I take it then, that those turfed out of their homes have been living the life of Riley !!!
The kids haven't missed out on anything as the academy will be employing the same teachers that have found it hard to run Moorland properly over the recent years.
And now they have to try and get to school in the centre of town, which we all know of course is a free flowing traffic area, so no problem there then !
Posted by: Angela, Darwen Resident on 10:36pm Mon 18 Feb 08
I agree with Realist from Darwen, it takes good teachers and pupils who want to achieve to make a good school not a building; The council have always left things to neglect when they are ready to be replaced, for example the redearth triangle, they allowed it to get like it is now so that people will complain like you lot. Open your eyes.
I agree with Realist from Darwen, it takes good teachers and pupils who want to achieve to make a good school not a building; The council have always left things to neglect when they are ready to be replaced, for example the redearth triangle, they allowed it to get like it is now so that people will complain like you lot. Open your eyes.
Posted by: Grandma, Darwen on 10:08am Tue 19 Feb 08
Lady Bracknell in Wilde's Importance of Being Earnest had it right: "The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever."
I asked my grandson how much homework he gets at Moorland (I got about two hours a night at the old Darwen Grammar School). He's had one or two English homeworks, one French homework, and "one or two others" in about 18 months. Give me strength.
Lady Bracknell in Wilde's Importance of Being Earnest had it right: "The whole theory of modern education is radically unsound. Fortunately in England, at any rate, education produces no effect whatsoever."
I asked my grandson how much homework he gets at Moorland (I got about two hours a night at the old Darwen Grammar School). He's had one or two English homeworks, one French homework, and "one or two others" in about 18 months. Give me strength.
what would you expect the kids to say,if you offer them a bright shiny new school with clean toilets every kid would say yes,if you offered them the same school but on the moorland site they all want that instead.and if you offered them free antony costa tickets then would say NO! i'm sorry i've forgotten were i was going with this arguement.
what would you expect the kids to say,if you offer them a bright shiny new school with clean toilets every kid would say yes,if you offered them the same school but on the moorland site they all want that instead.and if you offered them free antony costa tickets then would say NO! i'm sorry i've forgotten were i was going with this arguement.
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