Helen Davis was in disbelief when the Hackney council revealed plans to build the first “21st-century street” near her children’s school.
“I still get a thrill just thinking about it,” she exclaimed. “Colvestone Primary School was set to be the center of this brand new, car-free, eco-friendly area. Students would have the opportunity to cultivate their own produce, participate in conservation efforts, and engage in outdoor play. They were even in the works of creating an outdoor classroom.”
However, this decision was made by the council to close Colvestone, as they plan to shut down four, or 10%, of primary schools in the borough. Additionally, the council will also be reviewing at least 12 more local schools in the upcoming months.
Davis, the leader of the Save Colvestone primary school campaigning group, stated that this street, which belongs to the 21st century, will become a family-friendly zone without any actual families or children. The school in the middle of the street will be shut down and boarded up.
The council’s decision is being challenged by the community organization Hackney Families, who are also actively advocating for a different outcome.
The council is labeling the closure of Colverstone as a “merger” with another primary school. However, according to Davis, the government’s policy of prioritizing free schools prevents councils from merging schools. She stated that they can only either close schools or protect them.
She stated that the closure of Colverstone would have a negative impact on both the students and the community. She expressed that everyone is deeply upset by this news as Colvestone is the only non-faith, single-form school in the vicinity. Due to its distinct position, the school has a larger number of students with special needs who may struggle with adjusting to a bigger school.
Davis rejects using the term “sad” when discussing the community’s strong emotions. Instead, she asserts, “We are completely outraged.” She highlights the presence of large, weatherproof posters on the school walls, numerous smaller posters in local homes and stores, and the “Save Colvestone” T-shirts her organization has produced.
Davis and their team have been putting in a lot of effort. They meet two to three times a week, attend public meetings, request information from the cabinet, and push for the council’s decision to be thoroughly examined by the borough’s children and young people scrutiny panel.
According to an independent review conducted by Hackney council, the proposed changes were widely disliked, with 89% of those surveyed expressing disagreement and only 8% in agreement.
According to Davis, her team’s investigation revealed that less than 10% of parents included the school their children will be transferred to on their list of preferred schools on their applications.
The speaker emphasized the significant impact that these proposals will have on education in Hackney. However, they expressed concern that no other options have been presented or discussed during the consultation process.
Once a school is shut down by a council, it cannot be reopened. Davis highlighted the council’s inadequate planning for the future by referencing the Dalston plan, which includes constructing hundreds of new homes near Colvestone. She expressed concern about the fact that in the next five years, there will be 100 new children residing in an area where a school has been closed down.
The council’s sole option would be to transfer the building to a private company, which could then establish an academy on a lengthy lease. However, this arrangement would not generate any rental revenue and the council would have limited control over the management and curriculum of the academy.
Davis stated that Hackney serves as a symbol for the entire capital. She expressed her belief that many parents are now considering leaving London due to the closure of schools and reduction of maternity services. She posed the question, “Can we imagine a London without children?”
Source: theguardian.com
