The future of Forest High School in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, remains uncertain as talks continue over a possible transfer of the school to another education trust. Currently managed by South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust (SGS), discussions are underway with Greenshaw Learning Trust, which runs nearby Five Acres High School in Coleford, about potentially taking on Forest High School.
If agreed, the transfer could pave the way for the construction of a new school building, with hopes that it would be completed by 2030. The SGS trustees are expected to vote on the matter this month.
Local concern is mounting, with over 700 people signing a petition launched by Forest of Dean MP Matt Bishop. The petition calls for urgent Government funding to replace the school’s aging and deteriorating facilities. Bishop emphasizes the need for a safe, modern, and inspiring learning environment, highlighting that current conditions risk disadvantaging an entire generation of young people in the area.
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“Students and teachers deserve to learn and work in a safe, modern and inspiring environment,” Bishop said. “The current situation is unacceptable and risks failing an entire generation of young people in our area.”
The petition demands prompt investment to secure the school’s long-term future, ensuring pupils receive equal opportunities to their peers elsewhere in the country.
“Children in Cinderford and the Forest of Dean deserve better. Save Forest High School,” it reads.
Though SGS has confirmed they are collaborating with the Department for Education on the school’s future, they stress that no formal decisions have yet been made. The trust also states it continues to invest in the site and currently has no plans to relocate students to another location.
As the community awaits the outcome of the trustees’ vote, the call for improved facilities grows louder, underscoring a critical moment for the future of education in the Forest of Dean.