Primary school crisis parents look to ‘free’ option

Published: 01 July, 2010
by TOM FOOT

PARENT campaigners have warned a repeat of last year’s admissions fiasco could lead to a surge in applications for new-style “free” schools.

Dr Liz Taylor – who led a campaign for more places in the Belsize ward after her son was offered a place in a school two miles away – said recently released council figures showed Camden faces an “even bigger problem” next year. 

Dr Taylor said: “There is a lot of frustration in our parent group as we have tried to contact the council for a meeting about this. But it has all gone quiet."

The warning comes as parents in the north and the south of Camden officially expressed an interest in setting-up independently-run free schools.

Last summer, 205 children were without a school place. This year, the figure is down to around 160. But council officials are forecasting more than 250 could be without a place in 2011.

Camden Schools chief Councillor Heather Johnson said: “The issue of primary school places is something we are working hard to address and something we know is of great concern to parents. We are currently still investigating possible sites and funding for a new school and will be considering a review of primary places policy when a report is brought to Cabinet in July.”