West End Letters - Pimlico School "consultation"

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 28 March 2008

Consulting!

• THE article “Academy battle for High Court” (March 21) refers to more than 99 per cent of pupils, parents and teachers writing to the council.
Would that the “consultations” had persuaded so many to respond.
In fact the the number responding to the first consultation, over 300, of which only 4 per cent expressed a desire for academy status, fell sharply to 58 responses to the second. Why was this? Perhaps people had bought Westminster’s line, stated with great force at the “consultation” meeting, that we “were on tramlines to an academy” and that parents were arrogant to think that they could change Westminster’s mind. Or, on reading in the consultation leaflet “Now that the future of Pimlico School has been decided and a sponsor chosen” maybe people felt that the decision had been made and wondered what they were being consulted about.
The number of responses to the final consultation, 172, would be regarded as a high number in the world of consultation.
One wonders if, in the world of consultations, it is also normal to disregard the content.
In this case not a single respondent spoke in favour of Pimlico becoming an academy.
Last week in radio and TV interviews we heard pupils and local councillor Sarah Richardson talk about the new building that will replace Pimlico School.
Leaving aside the accuracy of the comments, children were looking forward to more space when in fact the school’s internal space will be reduced by 17 per cent and see the loss of the swimming pool and the school library, one wonders why there is this anxiety to focus on the rebuild when it is not related to academy status?
Many pupils and parents at Pimlico School, when asked about Westminster’s plans for the school, will reply that they are in favour, looking forward to the new building.
Is this the result of a good consultation or success for Westminster in pulling the wool over people’s eyes?
GLORIA GATELY
Parent, SE22

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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