Jewish residential special school in Delamere could move to Manchester

Feb 25 2010 by Paul Mannion, Chester Chronicle

A SPECIAL residential school in Delamere is looking to move to Greater Manchester after educating Jewish children from communities all over the country for 88 years.

Delamere Forest School, on Blakemere Lane, Norley, has been forced to make the decision after pupil numbers have fallen, resulting in a severe income shortfall as well as the school’s historic buildings needing thousands of pounds spending on them.

Chairman of governors David Clayton said: “After the end of the summer term this year it is currently contemplated that the school will cease to operate from the site at Delamere and will, if possible, be run instead from North Manchester.

“This would put into action an idea that has been talked about for many years – that of re-establishing the school to be a part of the North Manchester community where there are all kinds of Jewish facilities which our children will be able to enjoy.

“Furthermore, it would, we hope, make the school far more accessible for a large number of Jewish children with special educational needs who cannot come to Delamere because of its distance from the community.

“The school has been losing money and cannot continue without a change in direction.”

The school is working with Manchester young people’s charity The Together Trust – who support local authorities and service users in meeting the needs of children, young people, adults and families – to make the move a possibility.

“The trust is a highly skilled and professional organisation and is an experienced special education provider, running three special schools and a specialist further education college in Greater Manchester.

“We approached them because of their experience in the field of special education and their strong base in the region.

“We would need to supplement their services with our own Jewish education programme, with Jewish staff from the community, kosher facilities and Jewish cultural activities for our children.

“We will be taking guidance on this from rabbis in Manchester and we are confident that the Jewish character of the school would be maintained and should be enhanced by its location closer to the heart of the community in Manchester.”

Do you have any memories of Delamere Forest School through the years? email paul.mannion@cheshirenews.co.uk or ring 01244 606 414