West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Published: 14 March 2008
Fighting for pupils
• YOUR paper failed to approach the council to offer the opportunity to respond to a series of misleading allegations on your front page over our plans for Pimlico School (‘We’ll fight till the end’, March 7)
While we of course welcome constructive criticism and do not shy away from robust debate in the local press, we believe that your consistently skewed reporting of Pimlico School is deeply irresponsible.
To clarify, last week’s so-called “commando-style” raid on the school was misguided and we are now investigating the possibility of legal and disciplinary action against those individuals concerned.
We have also made it a priority to keep parents informed over our plans for the school and carried out a consultation process which involved issuing 55,000 leaflets, seeking local views and held a series of meetings which parents were encouraged to attend.
Our utmost concern has always been to make sure pupils have the best possible education in a safe environment.
The school is showing real signs of recovery. Truancy rates are down and educational standards – as confirmed in the most recent Ofsted inspection – are up. And when the school’s £34 million rebuild is complete it will have the best facilities it has ever had.
We believe that Pimlico has a bright future ahead of it. COUNCILLOR NICK YARKER
Deputy Cabinet Member for Children’s Services
Westminster City Council
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