School not at all ‘ghastly’

Published: 7 October, 2010

• I WAS concerned to read your front page article (Kids taught in ‘rotting classrooms’, September 30) as the picture painted of our school has been wildly exaggerated.

While it is, of course, true to say we were very disappointed that the government cut our Building Schools for the Future funding, which would have afforded some significant refurbishment to the school, to say the children are sitting in rotting classrooms is not accurate.

In fact, within the last five years, Parliament Hill School has had two brand new buildings constructed; a new detached Design and Technology building, which won a Royal Institute of British Architects award as well as a new Performing Arts building constructed as an extension to the north of the Victorian Morant building.

Our staff work very hard to ensure that our pupils are happy, comfortable and well educated and painting such a dire picture of Parliament Hill may dissuade families from joining our school.

Just like many other schools in Camden, we do need refurbishment works carried out, and just like many other schools some asbestos has been identified on the premises. 

The location and condition of asbestos has been identified through specialist technical surveys, and both the school and the council maintain an asbestos register. 

The school and the council comply with statutory requirements for the management of asbestos and I would like to assure parents that there is no risk to students and the school is a safe environment to learn in.

I hope that those families considering Parliament Hill will come and see the school for themselves and realise it is not at all “ghastly” but in fact a very good school offering a great education to a whole range of pupils from many backgrounds and with many abilities.
Sue Higgins
Headteacher, Parliament Hill School