The DfEE has approved the strategy of closures for Lambeth
Primaries.
The main points are as follows:
Kings Acre and Haselrigge schools were to close on 31st
December 2000, reopening on Haselrigge site on 1.1.2001, moving to new school
on King's Acre site on 1.1.2002
Walnut Tree Walk and Vauxhall were to close on 31.8.2001,
decamp to existing Vauxhall site in September 2001 and then to the new WTW site
in September 2002
Brockwell moved to Strand site in September 2000, Grove
House and Effra closed on 31.12.2001. The combined school will be housed on
Brockwell site in September 2002.
Norwood Park was due to close on 31.8.2001 and Crown Lane
move in while a new building is erected for September 2002. (See right hand
column for problems which have developed)
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Artist's impression of the new school for the north of
the borough. Planning difficulties ahead ......
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Some of the futuristic imagery would give the impression
that what we are to witness in lambeth is the birth of a new, indeed modern
century in education. If so, the pregnancy and birth are going to be
difficult.
The Authority has forced through changes despite a two year
battle by the school communities to keep the existing schools.
Despite making the proposals, ignoring the parents, the
teachers and in many cases the governors, the LEA has prressed ahead. Yet it
would be generous to suggest that the only problem has been that of
communication. |
Apart from the disruption and unsound policies we
think are being carried out, we express our concern for various reasons
including:
- the closure of a school in the middle of a school
year adds additional disruption and stress to all concerned
- The fact that they have progressed without planning
permission for the Brockwell site shows up the haste by which they have
proceeded.
- The late decison to close some of the sites - with
immediate effect - is damming.
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There are also very important educational concerns
that have not been addressed
For example they have:
- decided to close Crown Lane and move it to Norwood
Park site, thus closing Norwood Park. Staff at Norwood Park were effectively
removed. The project was delayed because of a compulsory purchase order.
As a result of this, the new date for the new school is now September 2002 on
the Norwood Park site with the new bulding being ready - that is when they have
decided which plan to build around - being ready for 2003..
- closed Grove House which specialises in hearing
difficulties, and moved it to Jubilee school.
- decided to close Walnut Tree Walk and Vauxhall, and
re-open a new North Lambeth school, but this will not happen because of a court
victory by local residents who were not prepared to give up common land: For
Walnut Tree Walk court victory,
click on link
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Brockwell school, having decanted to the Strand building for
2 years is now to re-open as the Jubilee School on September 9th 2002. We
unreservedly wish it every success.
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Part of the school closure plan - the right term when 11
schools are closing and 4 are opening - is the integration of pupils with
Special Needs. The sentiment is shared by Lambeth Teacher, but not the
cynicism of cost cutting.Will resources for students with special neds be
maintained, or will theybe syphoned off into genaral school budgets till they
are unrecognisable?
Also, if the integration of Grove House into the new Tulse
Hill school makes so much sense, why was the Partial Hearing Unit based at
Stockwell Park closed a decade ago? |
