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Parents’ protest march last month against the Edith Neville plans |
They marched, then they stayed away but will parents’ message get through?
Campaigners shun ‘sham’ talks on controversial bid to rebuild schools on one site
THE rows of chairs strung out across the ballroom were left empty, the table of refreshments remained untouched, translators chatted among themselves and a PowerPoint presentation was frozen, still on its first slide.
This was the scene at Camden Centre on Monday night as parents opposed to council plans to rebuild two schools on the same site in Somers Town turned down the chance to meet education chiefs.
Instead, the meeting was branded a “sham” as parents from Edith Neville School reminded the Town Hall they will not back down until the plans are looked at again.
The attendance – or lack of it – was the latest message from Edith Neville’s supporters that they fear a “co-location” plan with Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children would be a disaster.
Relations between opponents of the scheme and Camden Council are at their lowest point.
The three parents who did turn up at Camden Centre in King’s Cross refused to enter the main room and confronted an education director in the street outside.
Conservative education chief Councillor Andrew Mennear said legal advice had already been taken from external lawyers as to what the council would do if it was taken to court by protesters.
In recent years, no campaigners from a Camden school have drawn such fierce battle lines with the Town Hall. Some sources believe the issue has grown into a test case over whether the council should be allowed to overrule a school governing body.
Senior councillors are almost certain to confirm the plans at a cabinet meeting in two weeks and opponents believe the Town Hall would consider a change of heart too embarrassing to even consider.
The meeting on Monday was set up as a chance to inform parents how the plans will lead to the long-awaited refurbishment of Edith Neville, whose buildings are often described as “unfit for purpose” and where some lessons are taught in Portakabins. The improvements, it is promised, would come sooner if the school follows the council’s plans, but that suggestion has been described as “blackmail” by opponents.
The non-meeting in the echoing hall in King’s Cross – a short walk from the school – quickly turned into an impromptu press conference as the only people in the building were journalists.
Cllr Mennear said turnout had not been helped by rain and not being able to hire the school as a venue, but he admitted that relations with parents were “not good”. He had expected at least “20 or so” parents to have been there.
The education chief put on a brave face alongside Liberal Democrat deputy leader Councillor Janet Grauberg and director of children’s services Heather Schroeder.
“We are not trying to drive a wedge between parents and governors at the school,” said Cllr Mennear. “We just want to talk with them. We know the school isn’t happy but we can’t work it out with them unless we talk it through and at the moment that isn’t happening. We see this as an opportunity for Edith Neville but we haven’t been able to communicate the benefits to them.”
He added: “For an example, I think some parents at Edith Neville don’t realise how many children go to Frank Barnes and that it is only 30.”
While nobody has called the lack of interest a boycott, there is anger among the school’s supporters that a meeting was called before negotiations with governors had been resolved.
Just as parents and children at the school had shown their anger at the council with a march on the Town Hall last month – notable for the numbers who took part – the lack of numbers present on Monday conveyed a similar message. It is feared by governors at Edith Neville that having both schools on the site in Ossulston Street will cause a squeeze that will harm the education of all pupils.
Esther Caplin, chairwoman of governors, said: “Parents believe the meeting was a sham, which is why they refused to be part of it. If the council is serious about listening to the view of everyone here, it will remove the gun from our head and start the decision-making process from scratch.”
She added: “Edith Neville parents support the governing body. By calling this meeting, Camden was trying to drive a wedge between parents and the governing body of the school, but it failed totally.”
Campaigners for Edith Neville have not locked horns with Frank Barnes – the schools have a mutual respect for each other’s nationally recognised high standards.
Instead, their grievances are clearly aimed at the education department and what has occurred since it was decided nearly two years ago that Frank Barnes should be evicted from its current home in Swiss Cottage to make way for Camden’s first city academy.
Judith Glynn, whose son attends Edith Neville, said: “We stood outside in the rain. I’m delighted to say not a single Edith Neville parent came.
“Every Edith Neville parent knows the council isn’t interested in talking to us sensibly. We are all standing firm on this, completely united.”
Cllr Mennear said: “We are still talking to the school on other issues but we need to work with the school so parents, teachers, governors and children can have their say in the designs and how the new school will look.” |
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