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Popularity at Pimlico: here’s a maths lesson!
• COUNCILLOR Sarah Richardson’s letter (Our priority is a Pimlico turnaround, not populism, September 14) asserts that the academy proposal is “not popular with everyone”.
Surely this should read “not popular with anyone” since, in the council’s own consultation, only 4 per cent wanted an academy. Parents, teachers and pupils remain opposed to an academy and want to retain Pimlico as a publicly owned and accountable community comprehensive.
As to “turning the school round”, 50 per cent A-C grades and excellent A-level results in what was an extremely difficult year, surely emphasises the point that what is needed in Pimlico is long-term support by the council, not attempting to turn it into an academy where results are worse than the schools they replaced.
While Cllr Richardson’s commitment to debate and agreement with secondary school heads is welcome, there is no similar commitment to consult with parents.
The council-appointed Interim Executive Board now running Pimlico School has so far refused, despite promises, to include any representation from the Parents Association and this has led to growing frustration and anger as a whole series of decisions have been imposed without proper consultation.
The Pimlico School Association is asking for nominations and is planning to hold elections for three parent representatives who attend regular IEB meetings to reflect the views of parents.
Similarly, in relation to the new building, parents have no effective say in the design, and in what are bound to be difficulties over the period of demolition and rebuilding.
The vast majority of parents, staff and students, having survived three years of rebuilding, will greatly resent the prospect of a £35 million new school paid for out of taxes being handed over to private school owners.
Though I wonder whether Westminster’s constant postponement of the announcement of their chosen sponsor has anything to do with the said institutions’ unease about taking on what will become from January, a building site.
PADRAIC FINN
Secretary, Westminster NUT
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