The Press had a large volume of verbal, written and photographic material to choose from for this week - in the end of course they've whittled it down to one or two photos in each paper and a limited amount of text, however, we can celebrate the fact that the coverage was prominent and got across the message we'd aimed for.
Page 3 carries a photograph of the KS1 nativity play at Lingfield (taken by school staff and submitted to the papers who could not send a photographer - thank you Janice and whoever else was involved in that) and both in the text and caption picks up on the "No room at the Inn" theme, resonating with the campaign to save secondary school places.
On Page 5 is a photograph we took of the 8 children who took the 8 minute journey to Oxted last Saturday in a symbolic demonstration, along with an article explaining the campaign and giveing our web site details. (Thanks to the Marchant, Floyd and Nash families for helping me sort this one out and for taking so many photos - sorry we only got to see this one in the paper in the end but it does look good and we'll use some of the other photos on the web site to tell the story of the expedition)
On page 10 Danielle Adams (also a parent at LPS) has used her weekly column to explain about signing the petition, submitting consultation documents and visiting our web site (thank you Dani).
We made the headlines "Angry parents campaign to keep pupils in closest school" and dominate the front page with a story that highlights our connection to Oxted, covers the council meeting we attended at TDC offices in Oxted last Friday, points out that catchment area changes would be better made in the north and records the comment of Executive Committee Member Sally Marks that De Stafford school could double in size. And hooray for Dormansland - you got your picture nice and big, slap bang in the middle of the front page - good that it's not all Lingfield - we're in this together so very pleased for you that it was your photo chosen...hope that his will help your parents and children to feel right at the centre of things. Urge everyone in the village to go out and buy a copy of the Surrey Mirror - give one to a friend for Christmas.
Page 8 - there's a letter from Margaret Hawley, Head of Oxted, explaining that it is not the school that descides on admissions and that she is working closely with the Heads at Lingfield, Dormansland and Godstone to find an alternative solution to the SCC proposal.
Nativity Stars pull-out section has the same photo as the EG Observer of KS1 children at the Nativity Play, with their "No room at the Inn" sign.
Although all of the papers can be helpful to us, getting the lead story in the Mirror is important because it will be read more widely than the others by Surrey County Councillors and Officers - hopefully the Executive Committe all choked on their cornflakes on Thursday morning.
Lead story again with a photo of our intrepid band of protesting parents and vote-winning babies in prams outside the TDC offices in Oxted last Friday morning. Thanks again to Kevin for keeping us on his front page and radio slot; listen out for his weekly broadcasts on BBC Southern Counties between 07:15 and 07:30 on Friday mornings.
Page 12 has Kevin's photo of KS1 children at the Wriggly Nativity
Page 9 - Lingfield News. Article with photo of parents outside TDC offices in Oxted, covering the meeting with County Coucillors last Friday.
That's it for now. We will not expect to have much coverage in the Christmas and New Year editions, which generally are not well read, but look to get ourselves back in the papers for the week beginning 7th January, just a few days before our rally/march
Please keep feeding me any information and especially digital photos that you think may be of interest to the press in connection with our campaign.
Paul
press@8minutestooxted.co.uk
Tel: 07736 95 65 95