Mixenden Community Primary School
Parent, Teacher & Friends Association
Mixenden PTFA was formed in May 2001, to help create a better environment for the pupils of Mixenden Community Primary School and raise funds to help towards the costs of their school trips, etc.
Our 1st event was our Summer Fayre, which was held on Saturday 7th July 2001, just 5 weeks after the PTFA was formed.
With us being a new committee, we were a bit wary of holding such a big event in so little time.
But we made it a great success, and raised £625.41 which went towards arranging further fundraising events, buying new books for the school library, helping to fund school trips, and we also donated a percentage to charities.
With the Summer Fayre's success our confidence was boosted, and we were set to arrange further events.
We have held Halloween and Valentine's discos for the pupils, jumble sales, and a fashion show with a selection of pupils as models.
And these have all been a great success.
On Saturday 6th July 2002, we held our 2nd Summer Fayre, which raised an amazing £694.96, many thanks go out to everyone who helped make the day go so well.
Unfortunately, due to a new school head not giving enough support to the committee, the PTFA was slowly undermined and disbanded in 2003, and all monies raised were handed over to the school.
In January 2004, OFSTED announced a proposed closure of Mixenden Community Primary school, their reason being "It is a failing school"
Various meeting were held during January, February & March 2004, by councillors, parents & teachers to try and persuade the decision to be overturned.
On Monday 1st March 2004, a meeting was held at Halifax Town Hall, where councillors discussed the options and implications of the school's closure.
On Wednesday 3rd of March 2004, another meeting was held at the Town Hall, where the public were allowed to attend.
A public demonstration was held outside the Town Hall, with over 100 parents, teachers & pupils attending, and only 38 seats were allocated for the public to attend. The whole meeting was a farce, and everybody smelled a rat. The decision had already been made, and no amount of argument was going to sway the decision.
Mixenden consists of 3 housing estates with 5 blocks of high-rise flats, and 2 schools (Mixenden Community Primary and Ash Green Primary).
When news broke of the intended closure, many parents panicked and grabbed some of the few spare places at surrounding schools. Ash Green does not have the capacity to take the 150 pupils that remain at Mixenden CP, so what is to happen? The council are discussing to use Mixenden School as a temporary teaching place, while Ash Green is being expanded to accommodate the school-less children.
This in itself is a waste of funding. If they can't afford to keep a school running, how can they afford to expand another?
 | What will happen to the 127 year old building? |
| Has the land already been sold? |
| Has the building already been let? |
The council say it will be used to benefit the community.
| Doesn't a school do that? |
The closure of the school means extra hardship for an already under-funded community, travelling to and from Mixenden is already a nightmare due to it's hillside location, lack of sufficient public transport, and poor road conditions.
The decision was made long ago to close the school, and the pupils, parents & teachers were kept in the dark, then held under false pretences, as Calderdale Council were already told that if they did not do the dirty deed, then the government would wield the axe themselves.
This is not a democracy anymore, it is becoming more like a dictatorship, and as happens with all dictatorships they become overthrown eventually. It is time that people stood up for what they believe in, got out in the streets of Halifax, and show their support for a community that is being victimised.
Please join us on Saturday 6th March 2004 at 2:00 PM
We will be walking in protest at the closure of our school. We will follow the route of the walking bus to meet at the school at 2:10 PM. From school we will walk to Abbey Park school. Several councillors will be joining the walk so please support us by being there.
Parents Action Group
Mixenden Primary School
