(07 May 2016, 8:23 am)Charles41 wrote There's also the question of access to playing fields as well. When schools become academies there is a tendency to take away historic facility for the wider community to use playing fields for recreation.
My former school used to have playing fields which were open to all to use free of charge outside of school hours. They now have a large fence around them and a no admittance policy.
The academy my partner's son attends has excellent modern sporting facilities. However these are only available to clubs by prior arrangement at a weekend on a fee paying basis. I feel this is wrong, facilities should be made available for all to use. Also the academy is surrounded by high fences and electronic gates. My partner has to buzz the intercom if she wants to visit. It's meant to be a school not a bloody prison.
Charles
Most school playing fields (at least the ones in Sunderland) have always been private property, and access to such has always been considered trespass. I recall Sunderland schools having sign posts up about it, and that's going back to the mid-90s?