| |
Reality of daily school life in building not fit for purpose
• JAMES Dunnett says I lack imagination; perhaps compared to him I do, as his ability to imagine would appear to be highly developed (Building still has a role, April 25).
For example, he is able to read a draft report and then imagine that it supports his point of view when the final conclusion has not yet been reached or written. Also, unlike him, Ashmount School has a real and not an imaginary building to deal with. And this building has real problems.
The school has real and not imaginary teachers with real and not imaginary pupils. Parents’ support for leaving the current building was a real 90 per cent. The financial constraints within which we have to work involve real rather than imaginary money.
Despite the problems with the building as it is (because it is the building as it is that we have to cope with day to day), the children have achieved really good things. We owe it to them to provide them with the best environment we can, within budget.
The move to Crouch Hill which has bi-partisan support on the council gives us a real, not an imaginary opportunity to do this. Rare enough to have the Lib Dems and Labour agreeing on anything you might think, but here our local politicians have put the educational welfare of Islington children above politics in favour of what all can see as a worthwhile project, albeit with many details still to be worked out in consultation with the community. Perhaps that has shown imagination.
Mr Dunnett continues to defend a building that is not fit for purpose and which is disliked with such intensity by those who, unlike him, have to put up with it.
David Barry
Chairman of governors,
Ashmount School
• PLANS to rebuild Ashmount Primary School are not “in disarray”, as claimed last week (Rebuild or renovate school? It’s a decision for new Mayor, April 25).
The council, the school and the community have always been fully aware that the Mayor of London would have to grant permission for the scheme.
This is not news to anyone who has been following our plans to improve the school, so I was surprised to see you present it as such.
The council remains fully committed to relocating Ashmount, and rebuilding a new improved school for children and staff. We look forward to continuing to work with the school community to make this happen.
Paul Curran
Director for children’s services
Islington Council
|
 |
|
| |
| Your Comments : |
| |
| |
| |
