Right, here we go. You fight the battle of a lifetime to secure land for the development of a state-of-the-art learning academy.
At a cost of £38m it is the most expensive school in the town’s history.
The local MP, leader of the council, county council bigwigs and everyone who can claim credit turn up for the opening. Macclesfield High School becomes the ‘greatest achievement’ a ‘truly remarkable establishment’ and ‘most modern’ seat of learning in the county.
Older schools close, students move and parents rejoice at the stunning opportunities provided for their children.
Three years on, these same parents are informed that Macclesfield High School is, in fact, ‘one of the worst in Cheshire’.
A letter arrives indicating that staff, headmaster and council are in favour of merging it with a much older school that will undoubtedly need additional facilities to cope with the new intake.
The situation is so bad that the name of Macclesfield High is to be eradicated.
In less time than it took to raise £38m, Macclesfield High School has gone from iconic seat of learning to redundant lemon. I have so far been unable to find anyone able – or prepared – to explain how an establishment trumpeted by council leaders as the ‘future of education’ changed to ‘one of the worst in Cheshire’ in so short a time.
The views on this page are Vic's and not necessarily those of the Express
