Camden New Journal

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Camden News - by TOM FOOT
Published: 12 February 2009

Axed: refuge for pupils outside schools system

Students ‘thrown back into lessons’

AN educational haven for teenagers struggling to cope with life in Camden’s secondary schools has been scrapped.
Schools chiefs believe Bridge Education – based at Westminster Kingsway College’s Holloway campus – is “not necessary”. They insist the service can be provided by teachers in Camden’s mainstream schools.
The pupil referral unit (PRU) – teaching 40 “hard-to-place” pupils, who may be pregnant, victims of bullying or have English as a second language – was described in a recent Ofsted inspectors’ report as a “safe, strong, caring and supportive environment”.
Opposition councillor Heather Johnson, Labour chairwoman of the Town Hall’s education scrutiny committee, said: “Of course, it would be better if these pupils were taught in the mainstream educational system, but they are outside it for a reason. It isn’t right to simply throw them back into lessons with other pupils. It should be done in a gradual and planned way.
“They are removing a safeguard and it just feels like they are doing this for the wrong reasons.”
The decision to scrap Bridge Education follows an announcement from Westminster Kingsway College that it is shortly to move from its Holloway campus to new headquarters in King’s Cross.
Although space at the new site was offered to Camden Council, education chiefs believe the PRU is surplus to requirements and that children should go back to secondary schools.
Camden has two other PRUs, in Gospel Oak and Kilburn, but places there are reserved for teenagers who have been expelled and will not be accepted by other schools.
Kevin Courtney, secretary of Camden National Union of Teachers, said: “There should be provision in boroughs for different sorts of PRUs. At the moment, a lot of vulnerable kids are educated at home. Many pupils at Bridge have not been in the English curriculum for some reason, or there has not been space for them at school.”
A council press officer said: “Bridge Education has been very successful in providing temporary education for pupils who don’t have a mainstream school place. However, there are vacancies across mainstream schools and Camden’s aim is to reintegrate pupils wherever possible.”
He added that Camden headteachers had been working closely with the local authority to ensure students accessed places in mainstream schools much more quickly than in the past. Bridge pupils would receive support in schools, he assured parents.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: