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Rowson's Comment |
Over this last summer, a large number of local children and their
families have suffered deep anguish over where their new school might be in September. We
have tracked a small number of individual pupils both at primary and secondary level.
Their stories have been heart-rending. One noted member of the community has recently
taken the drastic measure of moving with his young family right out of London because of
the state not just of Hackney’s education but of London’s generally. Another
story was emailed to N16 during the summer saying how, while they miss the social side of
Stoke Newington, the family’s escape to the North East had resulted in a far better
education for her children.
For one young lad, the last big assembly at a primary school should have been a proud
moment of a young life. The whole of his Year 6 paraded through the assembly and each was
thanked for the hard work that they had produced at the school. However, for this young
man and one other girl, there was very little to feel happy about. Yes, they had done well
in school but, while everyone else had a been offered a place in a secondary school, these
two had been told that they would have to consider attending schools miles away. This was
after all other appeals procedures had been exhausted.
At the end of the summer term, the boy had been some 14 or 15 places down the line for his
choice of Stoke Newington School. His mother, like a number of other parents, had decided
that the only answer would be to prepare for home education rather than send him to a
school outside the borough. The new school year began, and still no state school place
that was considered suitable by mum and son. So, with new books and outside help arranged,
schoolwork started at home. And then, to the young man’s joy, a place had become
available. And a few days later than expected, his secondary school life commenced.
For another young family with a single child due to start reception class, again no space
was available in any of the local primary schools. Like many others, their home had in
years gone by been well within the catchment area for one local school. This was now not
the case.
Each primary school sets out the distance that allows a child to attend that school.
However, because of the pressure of entry, these distances have shrunk year on year. Yes,
they could send their child to schools further afield but many of those only have spaces
because the quality of education is below standard.
After a lot of pressure, and challenging distances to Stoke Newington’s newest
primary school, it was agreed shortly before the start of the new term that, yes, their
daughter did just live within the correct distance. So again a new start was guaranteed,
but in both these cases it was only because parents were prepared to fight and had the
ability to persevere. They should not have to do this. While the two above cases have
resulted in positive outcomes, plenty of local children are still waiting for a place.
Education is improving in the borough and Stoke Newington’s local schools are leading
the way forward in many cases. People are still moving into the area because education is
actually better than in some other local boroughs.
The problem is that we just don’t have enough places for all our local kids. Come on
Hackney and the Learning Trust: young families should not year after year have to go
through this distance lottery.
We’d like to hear your views on this subject.
Contact us at:
info@n16mag.com
or write to:
N16 Magazine, PO Box 44624,
London N16 5WN.
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