Challenging Mr Gove

Published: 15 July, 2010

• EDUCATION secretary Michael Gove told MPs that everybody involved in the Building Schools for the Future process had told him to make sure the project ends.

He certainly can’t have asked the parents, governors, staff and children in Camden’s schools.

They have seen their vision for the future of Camden schools dashed at a stroke.

These visions would have provided pupils with teaching environments fit for the 21st century and helped to continue to raise achievement in our schools.

I have written to Mr Gove to tell him that his announcement to cancel BSF projects in Camden destroys four years of dedicated work in our schools.

While we recognise that a new government is bound to change and make new policy, we believe that the children and young people in Camden deserve that the government makes any changes in a proportionate and reasonable way.

We do not accept that it is reasonable for school staff and governors who have followed every part of the detailed procedures that have been required should have their plans overturned in such a cavalier way.

Not only were we on the verge of starting building work, including the careful move of children at a special school to an alternative site while building work takes place, all our schools in the next phase of building work next year have completed the very extensive and time- consuming work of planning the rebuilding in their schools and the creation of very detailed designs.

I have demanded that the government reconsider its decision and reinstates the Camden BSF programme.

I share the huge and widespread disappointment of all our schools facing such savage cuts to much-needed capital projects.

We are working with other local authorities on both protesting about the decision to cancel BSF but also to investigate whether there could be a basis for a legal challenge and will be looking at ways of funding the necessary capital works for our primary and secondary schools.

CLLR HEATHER JOHNSON
Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families