Most parents oppose Moreland and St Luke’s Primary school merger, says teacher’s leaked email

Published: 26th November, 2010
by PETER GRUNER

LETTERS leaked to the Tribune this week reveal the depth of opposition to the planned merger of two Finsbury schools.

An unnamed teacher protests in an email to Islington Council edu­cation officials that she is vehemently opposed to the transfer of pupils from her Moreland School to nearby St Luke’s Primary.

The teacher, who is banned from publicly expressing a view, points out that “most parents” from both schools are against the project.

She also asks why there is no money to refurbish Moreland, but cash is available for new sports facilities at Duncombe School and for a new building at Ashmount School, both in Archway.

Officials from her union, the National Union of Teachers, who are against the move to St Luke’s next year, leaked her email.

Many parents have already expressed their opposition to the transfer. Children will be housed in temporary classrooms at St Luke’s while a new £6million school is built on the Moreland School site.

Children from both schools will then be transferred to the new building in Moreland Street, which will be called St Luke’s, while the old St Luke’s site in Radnor Street will be used for housing.

The teacher’s private letter expresses her concerns to Thanos Morphitis, director of strategy and commissioning at Islington Children’s Services. His response has also been leaked.

The teacher writes: “We were one of the schools for which Islington applied and were awarded capital funding for a new school building.

“Plans were drawn up and we expected work to start earlier this year. Now we are told the school is looking at being closed.”

She agrees that Moreland does have a falling roll but says this is not helped by the poor state of the building.

The teacher asks why her school should close while there is money for Duncombe School’s £200,000 sports facility and Ashmount School has been given the go-ahead for a complete new building.

She adds: “Is Islington council diverting ring-fenced funds from one project to another without consulting? I have found no reference to this in any council meeting minutes. Could you please let me know where this discussion took place.”

Mr Morphitis confirms that Moreland was in the primary capital programme. “The programme was based on anticipated funds to be received from the government,” he added. “However, this funding did not materialise.”

The council is proposing that the school merger would be funded by a sale of land, he writes. This would provide sufficient funding for the school development as well supplying much-needed social housing.

He maintains that funding earmarked for Moreland has not gone to the Ashmount School redevelopment. 

Similarly, Duncombe School is not receiving any council funding for its proposed development, he adds.

He points out that the proposal to close Moreland is not a firm decision. “It is subject to consultation and we will need to take into account all responses and suggestions,” he says.

Ken Muller, assistant secretary of Islington NUT, said: “It is outrageous that parents, teachers and support staff can’t work in the school of their choice. Moreland should be rebuilt rather than closed down.”