Tell us why five primaries are to ‘lose’ £20m funding

Published: 11 March 2010

• READERS may be aware that without any consultation Camden Council wrote to some five primary schools to tell them that the previously allocated £20million of earmarked funding for improvements to their decaying buildings had been “postponed indefinitely”.
In fact this was central government funding under the Primary Strategy for Change initiative.
There was no consultation with the schools and the letter came out of the blue.
The chairs of governors of the five schools tried to have a deputation at the last council meeting to seek an explanation. However, this was refused by the Tory mayor Lulu Mitchell.
Two of the five schools concerned (St Dominic’s and Carlton) are situated in Councillor Mitchell’s Gospel Oak ward.
Gospel Oak is thus not only a much neglected ward by the council but its residents are prevented from seeking a democratic explanation of decisions which affect almost 1,000 children and staff at schools in the ward.
SEAN BIRCH
Governor, Carlton School, Gospel Oak