Page 5 - Ickford Informer Newsletter September 2022

FOSN The Friends of This year was one of the best attended ever and we welcomed
visitors from Essex and the USA!
St Nicholas Church
An army of volunteers (including two very kind people who
happened to be passing on a walk - thank you again) helped to
http://www.ickfordchurchfriends.com
clear the Church of pews on the Saturday as we were not sure
O N SUNDAY 21 AUGUST how reliable the weather would be. However, the sun shone and
the temperature was much more pleasant than in recent weeks.
ST
Everyone seemed to enjoy the food and company during the
63 people gathered in the Churchyard to eat a Ploughman’s afternoon.
Lunch and meet up with friends. The lunch, supplemented with
wine and soft drinks, has become an annual event and proves A slightly diff erent army of volunteers then assisted in restoring
very popular. the pews (thanks Will and Andy), washing up and clearing away.
We raised £407. As I always say, when the Church structure
requires any maintenance it’s always costly, so fund raising is vital.
Thank you to everyone who came and supported the event and
all the committee members and their partners who gave so
much assistance.

We are aiming to organise a talk in late Autumn but our next
defi nite date for your diaries is Christmas at St Nicks on
Wednesday 21 December. We’re so looking forward to reinstating
st
this after Covid fuelled cancellations. There will be carols, wine and
nibbles and the event is free to residents of Ickford. v
Enjoyment by all on a beautiful sunny day. Liz Jordain

A history of Ickford School funding However, with the creation of 66 new homes

at Deanfi eld, 30 proposed homes at Turnfi elds
N THE LAST EDITION OF THE ICKFORD INFORMER there seemed to be some and 18 proposed new homes in Worminghall,
confusion about the money coming from recent housing developments in Ickford parents are concerned that there won’t be

Iand how it is allocated to primary schools. suffi cient places for their children. However, it is
my understanding that as the school is now an
academy, they need to fi ll all the available places
every year because each child attracts a set
amount of money. The school needs that income
to provide for the staff and equipment to provide
the high standard of teaching we have come to
expect of Ickford School. When parents move
into the village, unfortunately there may well be
no places available for their children because of
the improvement. It fulfi lls the government policy
of giving parental choice of schools outside the
immediate vicinity.

Hopefully, should the number of primary
This is decided by Buckinghamshire Council Over the years there were attempts to improve school aged children in Ickford, Worminghall
in accordance with their policy regarding the the facilities with prefabricated classrooms. and Shabbington exceed the capacity of
needs of all their school premises. There were very few housing developments, but Ickford school then money from other housing
in the 1990s. Ickford was granted money for developments in Buckinghamshire will go
Way back in 1968 there were only three three new classrooms, a new staff room and a towards providing a bigger school.
classes in Ickford school. The Infants and the purpose-built preschool and a sports hall.
top juniors were in the original schoolrooms A huge investment. The £44,547 from Deanfi eld for secondary
and the lower juniors were in the now education will go to Buckinghamshire secondary
demolished dining area, built for school Although Deanfi eld Park is paying £340,171 schools and not Wheatley Park or Lord
meals during war time. There was a staff room towards primary education as part of the Williams’s, because they are both in Oxfordshire.
but the headteacher had to make do with a conditions of planning consent. This goes £229,201 going to our Parish Council separately
converted broom cupboard. There was no into general funds managed by the education will be used for new equipment on the play area,
hall. All P.E. was either outside or in the village department of Buckinghamshire Council to pay and there should be more money coming from
hall. Preschool was in the village hall and any for new school buildings where they think the the developments at Turnfi elds and Worminghall.
drama productions were also there. Not good, need is greatest, just as they did when they built Hope that helps. v
but times were harder then and money in at Ickford. So, in fairness, Ickford has already
short supply. had a large investment. Ruth Baker

ourickfordnewsletter@hotmail.com 5 September 2022