Work and Money

Following four months of consultation into the proposed £350m shake-up of secondary education in the borough, the revised plans have now been ratified by the Council’s cabinet members.

The latest scheme, is now scheduled to go out for a further six weeks statutory consultation, shows considerable changes from the original proposals.

One of the most radical change is the decision to drop the proposals to close Addington High School, Haling Manor and Westwood Language College.

After vigorous campaigning, particularly by parents, teachers and students at New Addington High School, it along with Westwood will remain at their current site.  The plans are to refurbish Addington and to look at both being run as Trust schools under The London Challenge in the future.

The proposal to close Haling Manor, which was deemed a failing school, has also been scrapped. It will also now remain at its site, in Kendra Hall Road, south Croydon, but will become one of six proposed Academies.

Head teacher John Troake said he is delighted at the change of heart:  “Haling Manor is a rapidly improving and oversubscribed school and we are delighted that the opinions of the school community have been listened to and acted upon by the Secondary Review team.

Strike Threat

Despite the turn around for many of the schools, teaching union representatives are not entirely happy. They argue these latest suggestions will result in all but one secondary school in the borough being taken out of local authority control.

Dave Harvey is the local NUT representative.  He said:  “We [NUT] are opposed to the privatisation of schools we think that schools should be regulated, supported, owned and controlled by the local council on behalf of local communities.

“Most of our members would prefer to work for the local council and they will be asserting that right through taking strike action subject to decisions both from our local branch and our national union."

Hear why the NUT is fearful for its members' jobs.  Click onto the audio link below to listen to an interview with Dave Harvey:

But, in recommending approval of the revised proposals, cabinet member Maria Gatland defended the changes.  She said they had been made because the council had listened to parents, teachers and pupils during the consultation period.

She went on: "Our plans set out a vision for the future of secondary education that offers every child, regardless of background, the opportunity to achieve their full potential.

"Ageing facilities will be refurbished or rebuilt, our best schools will be expanded and underachieving schools and coasting schools will be helped and encouraged to improve."

Opposition leader Labour's Tony Newman argued the changes were simply down to the vigorous campaigning against the original proposals which had been carried out by communities across the borough.

He said: "We have seen the greatest U-turn by the Tories since Mrs Thatcher abandoned the poll tax all those years ago.”

As the final proposals goes out for consultation, what are your views? Are you happy with the revised plans?  This is the biggest education programme in London and has been the caused of huge controversy.  Let us have your thoughts.

Email me with your comments/views.  evadney.campbell@bbc.co.uk