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St Marylebone girls’ school intake will increase |
We must do better on school options
Education campaigners urge fresh investigation into classroom places to help new families
EDUCATION campaigners are calling on schools chiefs to revisit the debate on building new primary, secondary and nursery schools south of Marylebone Road to cater for an influx of young families.
The last time proposals for a new school were tabled, in the 1980s, the council threw them out, ruling there was sufficient provision.
But over the past 10 years Marylebone’s stock has risen among young families, especially around the fashionable High Street, which has experienced a mini population boom.
Now parents say it’s time for a new survey of educational needs, with the priorities being a non-denominational secondary school and nursery.
Space has always been the main stumbling block, and the council says the £152million Building Schools for the Future project is expanding the number of school places in the area.
Currently, if you have a son, you are limited to a choice between two city academies north of Marylebone Road in Lisson Grove (King Solomon Academy) and Paddington (Paddington Academy), or stumping up the cash for private education.
Choices for primary age schooling are even more limited, with many parents forced to play the “religion card” to win a place at any of the four Church of England and Catholic primary schools serving the area.
Carl Upsall, chairman of the Marylebone Association, is one of many frustrated parents who feels cheated by what he says is a presumption that everyone living in Marylebone can automatically pay for a private school place.
He said: “A lot has been done to improve existing schools, but we still feel there isn’t enough choice south of Marylebone Road. You can’t move round here for mums and buggies, but the provision hasn’t caught up. What we really want is a proper community school and a secondary school for boys.
“Either you pay for private schools or you fall at the feet of the church. But now I think there are more parents in the area and, importantly, there are more parents who want the option of a good community school, especially with the recession. It does seem that Westminster is stuck in a Victorian timewarp.”
Gaby Higgs, from the St Marylebone Society, said: “I agree with the Marylebone Association that one of the most obvious needs is for a single-sex school for boys, though I do not see why this couldn’t be the ‘brother’ school to Marylebone Girls as a Church of England School, especially now that boys are taught in the sixth form”
The Marylebone Association is lobbying the council to include a new school as part of its plans for the redevelopment of the Moxon Street car park site.
Last month, figures obtained by local MP Karen Buck revealed that the borough is in the grip of a childcare crisis, with some parents facing year-long waiting lists while more expensive private nurseries stand empty.
The area’s biggest landlord, the De Walden Estate, has acknowledged the shortfall in provision and says it is keeping abreast of the demographic transition.
Managing director Simon Baynham said: “There is undoubtedly demand for a nursery school, but we can’t just grow space on a tree and the legislation makes siting one difficult.
“Our priority is to find a ground-floor space, but most of our buildings are period buildings and are unsuitable.
“In an ideal world there would also be some sort of boys’ secondary school, but I’m not sure where they would put it.
“Nobody wants to live next door to a school and I might be old fashioned, but I think secondary schools need a lot of space and we just don’t have that in the area.”
Councillor Sarah Richardson, Westminster Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: “At this time, there is no reason to build a new secondary school in the city as parents have access to a wide choice of 10 schools, all of which provide a good standard of education, irrespective of religious or faith background.
“In the Marylebone area, we have already made provision to increase secondary school places. Under the Building Schools for the Future programme, intake at St Marylebone will increase by one form of entry – 30 pupils per year group – from 2010 onwards.
“This September, the brand new King Solomon Academy will also welcome their first Year 7 pupils and is set to grow each year, until there are classes for children from nursery age right through to sixth form.
“Having visited the academy recently and St Marylebone many times, I would totally endorse these schools as excellent choices for parents in the local area.” |
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But this is wrong. Westminister Academy scored less than 20% 5A-C including English and Maths- they are still failing and will continue to with such a leadership.
ALEX LOVIT |
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