Check the latest advice from the NUT on Swine Flu - Swine Flu: Health and Safety Update Bulletin, July 2009.

The consultation on the proposed closure of Riverside began last week. The City Council plans to close the school and relocate students to other schools while allowing exam groups to continue at Riverside.

A series of meetings for staff, parents and unions are planned as part of the consultation. The Support Our Schools Campaign is hoping to have a stall at the meeting for parents to promote alternative solutions.

Staff are angry at the way the issue of falling rolls at Riverside has been handled. They are also angry about the some of the contents of the business case for closure, which criticises management and staff.

The Save Riverside Business and Enterprise College campaign has been actively campaigning, not least through Facebook. A protest demonstration was held outside the City Council Cabinet meeting held to confirm the closure plans, bringing together staff and local unions.

In the Cabinet meeting repeated interruptions by protesters led Council leader Ross Willmott to close the meeting early. But the closure decision was ratified.

The most recent Support Our Schools meeting agreed to continue to promote positive alternatives to closure. In particular it was suggested that these focus on a Federation between Ellesmere College and Riverside, with a view to creating a centre of excellence for Inclusive Practice.

All of the teaching and non-teaching unions are supporting the campaign against closure. With Secondary School student numbers set to rise in five years time there is a clear case for retaining secondary education on the Riverside site to ensure adequate future city wide capacity.

There are also genuinely exciting opportunities for new developments on the site. The local Strategic Sports Board is eager to develop facilities on the site, as is the ‘Goals’ group.

Given that Ellesmere College lacks playing fields and there is a general lack of sporting provision for the disabled in the city, here is a great opportunity to do something creative and meaningful; a fitting legacy from the Special Olympics!