School title decision questioned

MP Richard Caborn said the issue should be debated

An MP has questioned the decision to drop the word "school" from the name of a new primary in Sheffield.

Watercliffe Meadow is to be called a place for learning instead of a primary school.

Head teacher Linda Kingdon reportedly said the word school had been removed as part of a new approach to learning.

Richard Caborn, MP for Sheffield Central, said he welcomed new ideas but did not think the case had been made to drop the title.

Mr Caborn said: "I'm always open to new ideas but the reality is education is about preparing young people to live in the real world.

"I just don't think the case has been made to drop the word school to a place of learning. I don't know why they have done it."

The new £4.7m Watercliffe Meadow opened in September last year, replacing Shirecliffe Juniors, Watermead Nursery Infants and Busk Meadow Nursery and Infants.

Councillor Andrew Sangar, Sheffield Council's Cabinet Member for Children's Services and Lifelong Learning, said: "It's a school, we consider it a school and that's how we refer to it.

"How a school chooses to manage and refer to itself is a matter for the board of governors and the community it serves and we're relaxed about that."