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Parents and campaigners take to the streets to make their point over Edith Neville primary school last month. |
‘Parting shot’ sends out wrong message to parents
Town Hall director’s leaked email likely to force sides further apart as they seek a solution to battle over schools plan
WITH 40 years of local government experience behind her, children’s services director Heather Schroeder has always been considered a trusted pair of hands at the Town Hall.
Not for nothing was she included in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January – her CBE was widely seen as deserved recognition for her long public service.
But as she prepared to clear her desk last week, looking forward to a retirement splashing around on her favourite sailboat, it appears she could not resist sending one last email on an unresolved issue which has haunted the council in her final months in Camden.
In pressing the send button on a claim that a campaign, largely run by volunteer school governors, appeared “overtly discriminatory to the disabled”, she always risked firing up a row she leaves behind still simmering.
Whether it was her intention or not, the two sides have never looked so far apart in a disagreement which has repercussions for Camden’s entire education system.
Camden wants Edith Neville School in Somers Town to welcome Frank Barnes School for Deaf Children on to its grounds in a “co-location” package.
Edith Neville says it has respect and admiration for Frank Barnes’s work, but that there isn’t enough room for the two schools to operate on the same Ossulston Street site and that the transfer should not be forced on them. It’s been a lengthy stalemate and Ms Schroeder, perhaps frustrated by no sign of resolution, sent off her forthright email to leading figures at the council on Thursday.
“I have been increasingly concerned about the approach that the Edith Neville governing body has been taking in the context of their opposition to the council’s plans,” she wrote. “Opposition from the school continues unabated and in my view now appears to be overtly discriminatory to disabled children.”
Of course, she might not have expected her words to be so quickly leaked, but there is little surprise that some observers are describing the memo as a “parting shot” after months of deadlock.
The co-location is one part of a massive investment programme in all of Camden’s schools that should be making positive headlines; it is proving too divisive for that. Frank Barnes supporters have already had their own battles, marching through the streets to save the school from being transferred out of the borough. It is making way at its current Swiss Cottage site for a new Academy secondary school.
Ms Schroeder, who explained in her email that she was concerned by rumours that pupils at Edith Neville would one day be forced to learn sign language, is usually commended for her calm head under pressure.
She won over potential sceptics when, in 2004, she replaced former social services chief Jane Held, who made a sudden exit during sweeping changes that did not impress all of the then ruling Labour group. More recently, with children’s services and education departments merged, she has worked hard so that her social services background would not preclude her overseeing the schools investment programme.
But even some of the old Labour faces that she once worked have raised their eyebrows at the content of her email.
Labour councillor Geethika Jayatilaka said: “We have supported Edith Neville, but we have also supported Frank Barnes – so to point the finger at us, is pointing the finger of blame in the wrong direction.”
The level of support for Edith Neville in the campaign, which has the backing of teachers and governors throughout Camden, has meant it is not just a couple of objectors who have been offended.
Robin Nash, chairwoman of Edith Neville’s governing body, warned the council last night (Wednesday) to be careful not to fall into a “smear campaign”.
She said: “Over a quarter of our pupils have special educational needs and in the past we have been proud to teach deaf and blind children.”
The row over the future of Edith Neville and Frank Barnes has ramifications for the rest of the borough.
Edith Neville warn that governing bodies should not be ignored and supporters are still investigating plans to create a foundation school which would operate outside of council control. If one school was to break away from Camden’s family, it could set a precedent for others to follow suit.
Roy Long, another Edith Neville governor, said: “Camden has never been clear what the level of integration or co-mingling between the two schools would be.
“The educational needs of Frank Barnes children are least well served by Edith Neville with its specific demographic. There are other solutions, but the council has not considered the options.”
With such an outcry and with Ms Schroeder exiting, it might have been easy for the elected politicians to distance themselves from her comments.
Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Marshall said he was “sticking to what Heather said”, warning of the danger of “myths” surrounding the debate. Lib Dem Councillor Janet Grauberg took a similar tack, insisting Ms Schroeder was “right to flag up the danger”.
Such comments are unlikely to bring either side to closer to the negotiating table. |
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