AS the party candidates for Stroud MP in the upcoming general election were announced a debate restarted about the closure of Vale of Berkeley College (VOBC) in 2011.

When the Gazette announced the candidacies of David Drew for Labour and Neil Carmichael for the Conservatives readers commented about the roles both prospective former-MPs played in the shutting of the school.

The closure of the college left 259 students without a school to attend, with families facing the tough task of trying to find a school with available places.

Katherine Lady Berkeley’s did not have any places at the time, as confirmed by school governor and county councillor for Wotton John Cordwell, and there were only 17 spots free at Rednock.

Conservative candidate for Stroud MP Neil Carmichael, the incumbent at the time of the school’s closure told the Gazette: “The attendance dropped from 450 to 250 and was just unsustainable, it now has a good use as a focus school.

“It’s very difficult to see how it could be sustainable at that level.

“Good schools like Maidenhill have benefited greatly from the children that transferred there and fortunately the building has not been left redundant.

“The new technical college at Berkeley Green is already oversubscribed which shows there is a great need in the area and we need to help people get in to manufacturing and engineering.”

VBOC’s recommendation for closure followed a report from Graham Badman, then government school inspector, as part of a national challenge review of education.

Labour’s candidate for Stroud MP David Drew said: “I strongly opposed it and worked with the staff over a long period of time.

“The problem was that the Conservative controlled county council supported the Badman Report which argued for closure, I'm afraid that they had the final decision which is why it closed.

“The reality was that it was not viable as a traditional secondary school because numbers were so low.

“They helped me out on a number of occasions when it was difficult to get pupils placed elsewhere often with very good results.

“There was were cracking staff there, some of whom are still friends, and a lovely staff-pupil relationship. “However in the end the county took the financial argument as being paramount which is why it closed.”

At a meeting of Gloucestershire County Council in February 2010 the councillor for what used to be the Cam & Dursley seat, Dennis Andrewartha, proposed a motion to discuss the issues.

It stated: “The council calls on the cabinet to listen to the wishes of the local community and especially to the parents, pupils, teachers and governors of Vale of Berkeley before proceeding with any closure.”

Councillor Jackie Hall, the cabinet member responsible for education, said that the pressures on the school made the decision inevitable.

She also warned other schools in a similar position should look at reducing costs, or face a similar fate.

Hall said that the cost per pupil at the school stood at £5,529 a year, compared to a county average of £3,659.

She said: “The school is well regarded by its pupils, parents and staff. I fought to keep the school in 1998, and it saddens me that I'm facing this difficult decision today.

“However, I cannot ignore the high number of surplus places; neither can I ignore or justify the effects this has on the school budgets.”

Following the re-selection of both Mr Drew and Mr Carmichael Gazette readers such as Charley Robinson commented: “VOBC was an amazing school that should of been kept open as the school, but unfortunately it was closed whether Neil Carmichael could of done anything about or not it doesn’t change anything but what can change is the future.”

Sally Ballard said: “He [David Drew] didn't fight to keep Berkeley school open but I do remember a certain Neil Carmichael saying not only in the papers but on TV too that he would fight tooth and nail to keep it open. Did he? No, because as soon as he got in he did a massive U-turn.

“As someone who works in education and David being a former teacher himself. I'm pretty sure he wanted the best outcome for the pupils who were there at the time.”