Some 45 villagers attended Kymbrook School on 12th September (2001) to hear a presentation by two senior managers of Sedgemoor College concerning their organization and the company’s intentions in respect of Elm Farm. The presentation is summarized as follows: “Sedgemoor College is a privately funded company who operate 60 plus residential homes and schools. We employ over 600 people and run 120 vehicles to transport staff and pupils. We started off in the West Country in the late 1980s and after several changes of ownership were the subject of a management buyout in 2000, helped with addition al funding from venture capitalists. Our business is the care and education of children who have been “damaged” in their home or school life. Our ethos is to give our charges, who have “chosen” to come to Sedgemoor, a chance to develop in excellently equipped accommodation with plenty of space, love and understanding. We are a professional company, registered with social services, with a highly motivated well-trained staff We intend to lease Elm Farm to accommodate and teach four single sexed children. There will be four staff in attendance to care for and supervise the children who would not allow unsupervised outings. There would be no additional children bussed in for education. Sanctions for bad behaviour include ‘grounding’ and loss of pocket money. Persistent offenders are returned to the care of local authorities.” There then followed a questions and answers session that elicited the following information: - The “children” are aged from 12 to 16 years
- ‘Damaged’ includes young people with serious emotional and behavioural problems who would probably have been excluded from mainstream education, could have failed in foster care and cannot be housed in a large children’s home. They could have been in trouble with the Police and some could abscond.
- Generally the pupils have structured activities after their school day and weekends which could take the form of trips to the cinema, bowling, McDonalds or be in house. However, there could be occasions in the future when they would be allowed to go for unsupervised walks, as (‘they can ‘t be expected to stay in the house all the time’)
- Staff are low paid (‘they are not in it for the money’). They have basic training. A social worker is the only professional present. The care is on a shift rota (‘you can ‘t expect the staff to live there full time!’) There are only two supervisors present at night.
- Buckden School was in the wrong place with a primary school nearby and there were problems. The manager from Buckden is no longer a Sedgemoor employee.
- Sedgemoor is a profit making company. They will take up the lease at Elm Farm, irrespective of the wishes of Keysoe villagers but (‘we respect your concerns’)
- Although they have selected a potential manager for Elm Farm, the residents have not been identified but the high staff to pupil ratio suggests a ‘special care unit’, ie young people with serious problems.
After the Sedgemoor representatives retired a short discussion took place. It was felt that we were not reassured by the presentation and, although there was dissent from one resident, the general Consensus was that the Sedgemoor organization was not welcome in Keysoe. There was little to update regarding the planning application, save that the matter had been referred to the Council’s legal department for advice. Councillor Clifton recommended that letters of protest should still be submitted to the planners, Sedgemoor, MP etc, as these could be helpful. It was decided not to set a date for another meeting. Any significant developments or dates of subsequent meetings will be leafleted to interested parties. | 
