Teacher anger at Fenstanton Primary academy plan

8:40am Friday 24th October 2008

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Plans to build a new secondary school in Tulse Hill have been given an F grade by residents and councillors.

The controversy surrounds plans for a new school on the grounds of Fenstanton Primary in Abbots Park.

A decision on the project, which could see the creation of a new academy teaching up to 2,400 pupils, is expected at a council meeting on November 17.

Sarah Tomlinson, joint secretary of Lambeth Teachers’ Association, said: “There are three secondary schools nearby - this is not an area that needs any more.”

She said that a public meeting last week had shown local people were firmly opposed to the plan.

She also branded the consultation process so far “meaningless”, and said the council were not considering the impact on Fenstanton Primary.

The proposed development would be bad news for the school, said Ms Tomlinson, as it would probably be relocated to new buildings on the same site but would have to share facilities and lose much of its green space.

A spokesman for Lambeth Council said: “This borough needs more places for our children to go to school and now there are plans for a fourth new school that will transform the lives of young people.

“Final decisions on where this will be haven’t yet been made, but if the new school were to go ahead on the Fenstanton site, it would mean great new facilities for its pupils and the community.”

He added: "We would also actively involve the public in making the decisions on how the project would look, including facilities for the community to use. We also want to reassure people with concerns that the primary and secondary schools will operate separately.

“We have held five public consultation exhibitions and we're committed to even more consultation with residents on the estate and in local area to get their views.”

A member of staff at the school said: “There’s mixed opinions about it here, obviously. We are sharing as much information as we have with parents and governors.”

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