Lewisham Bridge – NUT issue a legal challenge to the council

This is a summary of the press release issued by Lewisham NUT 25th September 2008

Warnings ignored – legal challenge served

Last month Lewisham Council’s Mayor and Cabinet chose to proceed with their decision to create a new “all-age” school on the present site of Lewisham Bridge Primary School.

 But this decision was made despite repeated reminders from the NUT – both locally and nationally – that it believed that the decision would be in breach of section 14(6) of the Education Act 1996. Regrettably the Council chose to ignore our warnings. As a result, the NUT has been forced to issue our leagal challenge.

  ‘Securing primary and secondary education in separate schools’

The challenge points to the statutory need contained in the 1996 Act for Local Authorities to secure that “primary and secondary education are provided in separate schools”. In other words, children beneath the age of 12 should be taught in separate schools to older pupils. As the law stands, this means that Lewisham’s decision to build an ‘all-age’ school for children aged 3-16 is open to challenge.

Are ‘all-age’ schools the way forward?  Real debate needed

This legal requirement, restricting the creation of schools which are not solely primary or secondary schools, is nothing new. It was first introduced in the Education Act 1944 and has never since been repealed. But this isn’t just a legal nicety. The legislation reflects a long-standing view that different approaches need to be taken to teaching children of different ages. Any change to this approach needs careful debate – but that just hasn’t happened.

In contrast, when some Authorities wanted to try a different approach and introduce ‘middle schools’ in the 1960s, the educational debate led to the law being amended to allow the change. If ‘all-age’ 3-16 schools are the way forward then a full debate is needed first – any law change can then follow.

Lewisham Council ignores parental concerns

In keeping with their approach over other controversial educational initiatives – such as the handing over of Monson School to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College Academy and the reorganisation of special needs  – Lewisham Council has again chosen to brush aside the well-founded concerns of parents and staff rather than engage in genuine debate.

Council officers have reasserted the benefits they hope all-age schooling can provide in linking primary and secondary practice together. However, they have completely failed to take seriously any other points of view.

Lewisham NUT has consistently asked for further research into both the potential advantages and disadvantages of this form of school organisation in general – and whether it can work on this particular site.

Teachers and pupils have questioned whether primary practice could suffer in a secondary-dominated federation. The effect on admissions across the borough at both primary and secondary age has never been explained. Parents have raised concerns about the health and safety of younger pupils, and the need for sufficient separate play space for different ages, particularly when the plans for the new building have never been properly discussed with them.

Another sorry chapter in Lewisham’s handling of the demand for a new school

This legal challenge is just the latest chapter in the Council’s mishandling of parents’ demands for a new secondary school to meet the shortfall of places in the north of the borough. 

Lewisham Bridge School was originally rejected as a possible site. After alternative plans to build on Ladywell Leisure Centre were abandoned, the Council resurrected the idea of using the Elmira Street site, this time for an all-age school to be established by the Leathersellers’ Company – rather than the community school that was originally planned.

Unfortunately, the NUT suspects that this approach is driven largely by an ideological agenda to hand over more Local Authority schools into the hands of Trusts and Academies.

Of course, the central Lewisham site is still a long way from the north of the borough. Further, in trying to address the issue of secondary places, the plan reduces the provision of primary places in the area – just when the new building work around Elmira Street   further increases primary demand. The danger is that, this time at a primary age, the Council are again blundering over the provision of school places.

Listen to parents and staff

“The Council have nobody else but themselves to blame for this legal challenge.

We hope that, this time, the Mayor will recognise that he needs to listen to parents, staff and their trade unions, instead of just imposing initiatives that have not been properly thought through.

Lewisham Council needs to step back and urgently open a genuine discussion about what is the right way forward for primary and secondary education”.

Martin Powell-Davies, Secretary, Lewisham NUT

M: 07946 445488   Office: 020 8314 7487

Campaign Meeting

The next campaign meeting is on

Tuesday 23rd September

7.30pm

Upstairs at The Goose on The Green (opp. The Broadway Theatre, Catford)

All welcome!

Fight to stop Leathersellers is not over!

As you may have seen, in the summer the Mayor decided to approve the takeover of Lewisham Bridge Primary School by Leathersllers.

He did this in spite of the fact that over 100 parents expressed their concern over the proposal by signing a petition which stated that, above all else parents’ views have not been taken into account.

I saw the Mayor at the Country Fayre on Sunday and I told him that there is a significant number of parents who feel as though our views are being ignored. We have had at least 3 consultations several public meetings, focus groups etc where parents have expressed their concerns for the plan. Each time we are ignored and the plan moves one step further to completion.

I was told that I have mis-represented the issue that this is not privatisation, the new school won’t be a private school. Excuse me Mr Mayor, but I know what a private school is and I’m well aware that this is not a proposal to turn the school into a fee-paying school. But giving away a public asset to a private company used to be called privatisation – maybe they have a new word for it in New Labour. We have several examples of privatisation: Group 4 put in charge of prisons, but kept losing their prisoners! The tragedy of the rail accidents caused by the incompetence of the rail companies. Extortionate charges from energy companies!

I asked the Mayor if he would attend a meeting of parents and teachers at the school where we can air our feelings and get a chance to hear his opinions on the matter. I think we should now put pressure on him to do just that.

Parents have real concerns which it is his duty, as Mayor to address:

1.) Leathersellers is an unaccountable body. They control the governing body. What recourse do parents have if we don’t agree with their strategy for the running of the school?

2.) Why are the land and buildings being given away to Leathersellers?

3.) How has the plans for new school affected recruitment for the current academic year?

4.) The site doesn’t seem to be big enough for such a school. Indeed the Secretary of State is being asked to waive the necessity of providing playing fields on the site because there is no room for them.

5.) There is a plan to decant the school to the Mornington Centre in New Cross. How will that work exactly? How will children and staff be transported there? How will affect the start and end times for the day? How will it affect the many excellent after-school clubs (football, rugby etc.)? How will it affect the after-school club and Breakfast Club? How will nursery children be transported to and from school?

It’s really important that we don’t give up – we are not figures on a page to be moved about by the Education officers at Laurence House. We are real people, this is our children’s future, all of our children!

Eleanor Davies (parent at Lewisham Bridge)

HANDS OFF LEWISHAM BRIDGE PRIMARY SCHOOL! Send in your letters of protest before July 16th.

As you may have noticed on the gates, Leathersellers have finally put up their proposal to knock down Lewisham Bridge Primary School and replace it with a new all-age 3-16 school. It will be a Foundation School.

This is bad news for children and staff! We only have until July 16th to tell the council to think again!

Who are Leathersellers?

Leathersellers are a company based in the City. They are unaccountable to the staff, parents and children, which means that we cannot call them to account over how they decide to run our children’s education.

What is a Foundation School?

It is not like a community school run by the Local Authority. Governors have the right to decide admissions, they are the direct employer of staff, they own the land and the buildings.

How does this affect me, my child or my job?

Admissions:

Leathersllers say that they will be part of Lewisham’s admissions policy – based on bands 1A to 3 – but can we trust they will keep to their word?

They have already decided that they don’t want the Travellers Education Service at the new school. They don’t want a Special Needs Unit at the new school. They are more used to teaching high-achievers. What wil happen to children who don’t fit into that category?

They have promised parents in the north of the borough that the school is for them while they also promise that “the pupils of the school will live within walking distance of the school”. So who excatly is the new school for?

Employment:

If you’re a member of staff, your employer will no longer be the Local Authority but the Federation Governing Body. This will undermine collective trade unionism.

Governance:

Currently Lewisham Bridge Primary School has FOUR parent governors elected by the parents at the school. The new school will just have ONE. How much notice will Leathersllers really take of parents; views? They’ve already decided on the name of the school without consulting us.

Public Assets:

Leathersellers will own the land – we won’t get that back! They don’t even have to pay for the new school! Why aren’t Lewisham Council building and running the school themselves? Why are they giving away our assets?

Ignoring parents concerns

Most parents responding to the Leathersellers’ first consultation were AGAINST their plan. They still haven’t provided answers to many other objections that were raised:

• Why can’t the school remain as a community school?
• Where is the evidence that the all-age design will provide a safe and successful school?
• Where are the site plans proving that the site is big enough for both play and study?
• What will happen to all the staff who have been teaching our kids?
• Federations, Trusts, academies – all new words for privatisation!
• The proposal that Leathesellers run the new school at Lewisham Bridge is part of Lewisham Council’s plans to privatise education in Lewisham.
• Why should Lewisham be dominated by Haberdashers, Leathersellers and Goldsmiths?

DEFEND EDUCATION SAY:

START LISTENING TO PARENTS

DON’T GIVE AWAY OUR SCHOOL

REJECT THE LEATHERSELLERS PROPOSAL

KEEP THE NEW SCHOOL AS A LOCAL AUTHORITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

If you don’t want our school to be given away to an unaccountable firm, send you letter of protest to

Chris Threlfall

Head of Educational Development

Children and Young People’s Directorate

London Borough of Lewisham

3rd Floor

Laurence House

London

SE6 4RU

Next Meeting of Campaign

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 20 May at 7.30pm at the Goose on the Green pub in Catford. We meet in the room above.

We will be discussing the campaign lead by local parents against the takeover of Monson primary school by Haberdashers Askes.

The reorganisation of SEN and the proposed closure of Brent Knoll will also be discussed as well as the council’s proposals to relocate Brent Knoll and ‘reorganise’ SEN provision at Medowgate and Prendragon.

Parents and teachers from Lewisham Bridge will also be updating the campaign on the attempt of Prendergast to take over the new school proposed on the site.

All welcome!

 

HABERDASHERS/MONSON MERGER – PUBLIC MEETING 1ST APRIL

HABERDASHERS ASKES / MONSON MERGER

NOT A DONE DEAL!

 Public Meeting  

Tuesday, 1st April 2008, 7-8pm

St James Church Hall

Saint James  SE14 6AD

(opp Iceland, New Cross Road)

The Campaign against the merger has been continuing to challenge Lewisham’s divisive proposal. 

Joan Ruddock MP has taken our concerns to the Secretary of State and the Academies Minister – and the merger is now being reviewed at the highest level.

 The final outcome is not guaranteed – Secretary of State, Ed Balls has yet to approve Lewisham’s widely opposed decision.  

Come and share your views, hear the latest developments and find out how you can still make a difference. 

 Speakers:   

•  Fiona Millar, Leading Education Journalist The Guardian
• Joan Ruddock MP
• Martin Powell-Davies, Lewisham NUT
• plus Local Campaign Spokesperson 

Creche facilities will be provided  

Stop the Privatisation of Education!

Demonstrate and lobby the Mayor and Cabinet @ Lewisham Town Hall

Wednesday 13 February, 5.15pm

Local parents have serious concerns about the proposal to give Monson Primary School to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College and the consultation process that the Council have used.

Did you know?

The Mayor is going to make his decision on 13th February. Lewisham is basing its decision which will affect hundreds of children – on only 331 written consultation responses. The take over will mean Monson will pass out of local authority control to a body that is not accountable – even under the Freedom of Information Act. The Council also plans to give away control of both the new secondary school and the new special school as well.

The impact on Monson

Lewisham claims the merger will benefit this under performing school in a socially deprived area citing High Mobility. Other Lewisham schools such as John Stainer have experienced greater mobility problems and these have successfully been addressed by the schools themselves. Why can’t their positive approach be examined and applied at Monson?

If the local authority’s response to difficulties is to off load struggling schools to publically unaccountable bodies what will happen to the next school that begins to suffer?

Making Aske’s a local school

Askes is an unaccountable body, and the local authority has no power over the institution. It is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Should Monson be taken over by Askes it too will become unaccountable to local parents. Askes has no record of working with primary schools and neither can it demonstrate academic success with the demographic represented at Monson. Aske’s has never achieved the ‘value added’ record of schools such as Deptford Green.

The proposal claims that Askes will become a more ‘local’ school. Parents have clamoured for years for Askes to take more local children. This could be achieved by working with ALL the primary schools local to Aske’s and in order to ensure a more balanced social mix it could calculateits catchment area from the lower site and/or abandon its separate banding policy. This would ensure fairness for ALL local children.

Consultation concerns

Lewisham allowed only 6 weeks for this final consultation – since 2000 the Government has recommended a minimum 12 weeks for consultations. Lewisham identified five local schools – Childeric, Edmund Waller, Kender,Lucas Vale and St James Hatcham -as the most affected by this proposal leaving out John Stainer and Myatt Garden. Having identified these schools they were given little chance to voice their views. Parents at the five identified schools were simply informed that a leaflet would be sent in the next edition of ‘Lewisham Life’.

Lewisham Council are aware that many local parents report never having received this edition or this leaflet. Lewisham Council claims it randomly selected 350 local primary parents to attend focus groups and that invitations were also sent to pre-school parents in the area of Askes. No parents attended. At least two local parents specifically requested inclusion but their requests were turned down as Lewisham Council didn’t want ‘too many people’ and they were to be randomly selected.

Every voice now counts

Unless Lewisham accepts that this consultation process has been inadequate and unfair it will be basing a decision which will affect hundreds of children on only 331 responses.

• Join in our unoffical ballot at school gates.
• Stop the take over of Monson by HAHC.
• Let the Council know you are opposed to their plan to sell off our schools.
• Join the campaign to Defend Education in Lewisham.

Download leaflet for the Lobby

Stop the take over of Monson Primary school!

Report of the Lobby on Wednesday 30 January

Over 40 people gathered outside Lewisham Townhall on Wednesday 23 January to tell Lewisham Councillors that we won’t stand for their preposal to hand over Monson Primary school to Haberdashers Askes Hatcham Academy.

Sham Consultation

Parents heckled councillors who claimed that the proposal had wide support. Many parents had failed to receive consulation papers. Despite the fact that many were excluded,  the consultation report revealed that over 57% rejected the proposal. However the Council have decided to ignore this and are hell bent on continuing with their policy of handing over state schools to unaccountable private organisations.

A motion put forward by Socialist Party Councillors Ian Page and Chris Flood calling on the Council to ballot parents in the area was rejected.

Lewisham Council loves privatisation

Lewisham Council don’t like ballots and anything resembling local democracy. They recently lost the ballot in New Cross when council tennants voted to reject the recommendation by Lewisham that Hyde Housing Association take control of council housing in the area. Lewisham residents know what privatisation means – handing over valuable assets to private organisations that have no interest in serving the community has spelt disaster for working class communities.

We also heard at the meeting that a consulation paper on health provision in the area proposes that the A & E, the Childrens Hospital and Maternity Services are to be axed at Lewisham Hospital. These cuts are directly linked to the debts incurred in neighbouring hospitals in Greenwich and Bromley who are struggling to meet the payments demanded by the PFI contractors. So who pays for this? We do – by cuts in our local health provision.

Defend Education in Lewisham, who organised the lobby are determined to keep up the pressure. We will be organising stalls and protests across Lewisham to ensure that we mobilise parents, teachers and the local community to stop these disasterous policies.

While local trade unions have lent their support they have so far been unable to turn discontent and opposition into action. A key task in the coming weeks is for these campaigns to link up with trade unions and to start organising workers action to stop these attacks on public services.

Lobby the Council 23rd January

The Monson Haberdashers Askes Consultation closed 13th December. The report will be submitted to the Mayor and Cabinet on 30th January. However before then there is a full council meeting on 23rd January at which the Socialist Party councillors have submitted the following motion:

Motion for Lewisham council for a parents’ ballot on the Monson-Aske’s proposal

 

This council believes that the controversial proposal to hand over Monson primary school to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College secondary Academy is exactly the type of issue where the principles of ‘participatory democracy’ and ‘democratic control of community assets’ (outlined in last year’s government Governance of Britain paper and the Quirk review of community ownership of assets) should apply.

 

In that light, we call on the mayor to organise a single-question parents’ ballot on the proposal before a final decision is taken on whether to proceed.  This ballot should be of the parents of pupils in all Lewisham primary school classes within the same ‘distance to school’ radius as Monson is to Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College namely, Edmund Waller, John Stainer, St James Hatcham, Myatt Garden, Kender, Childeric, Turnham, St Mary Magdalene, Lucas Vale, Ashmead and Monson.

Join us at the lobby of the council on 23rd January to support the Councillors’ motion and to show the Mayor our opposition to this dangerous proposal. We will keep you posted with further details.