Lambeth College responds to protest over sale of Brixton Centre

By
Historic Contributor
-
Lambeth College Brixton Campus
Lambeth College Brixton Campus

Lambeth College have issued a statement in response to a planned protest at its Brixton Hill site, explaining its reasons for selling the site to the Department of Education (DfE).

The college say that the sale of the site will secure the future of the Brixton centre, as their budget is due to be cut by £2.8 million in 2014/15.

The site was sold by the college to the DfE for around £18 million.

Mark Silverman, Principal and chief executive of Lambeth College, said: “The redevelopment of our Brixton campus offers us a fantastic opportunity to generate the necessary finance to secure a new, modern and fit for purpose Brixton centre.

“The sale of the site effectively ensures we can continue to have a presence in Brixton for many years to come and that the long-term future of Lambeth College as a whole is more assured.”

Mr Silverman continued: “Yes, the new Brixton centre will be smaller than the current centre, but will deliver English, Maths, ESOL, adult community learning and employability courses.”

The ‘hands around the College’ protest tomorrow at 5pm aims to demonstrate dissatisfaction in the community about the building of Trinity School, a ‘catholic-ethos’ free school, on the college site.

Campaigners have started an online petition to save the college, which aims to gain 1,000 signatures.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

4 COMMENTS

  1. ” I’m pro the free school because I think we need a school that’s highly academic in the area.” – State schools aren’t interested in academic standards then ?

  3. I looked in on the demo but the turnout wasn’t high. More than enough to do hands round a lamp post, but nowhere close to the number to do hands around the college. I got talking to two guys who work for Lambeth College and they explained that actually the college isn’t closing anyway. Far from it, in fact. LC is going through a huge expansion with millions of new money as reported by BB some time back. So the whole issue is a bit synthetic really. ESOL classes for refugee families will continue (the protestors said they were being scrapped) . I don’t think the protestors have been very straight about this. I’m pro the free school because I think we need a school that’s highly academic in the area.

  4. I looked in on the demo but the turnout wasn’t high. Enough to do hands round a lamp post, but nowhere close to the number to do hands around the college. I got talking to two guys who work for Lambeth College and they explained that actually the college isn’t closing anyway. Far from it, in fact. LC is going through a huge expansion with millions of new money as reported by BB some time back. So the whole issue is a bit synthetic really. ESOL classes for refugee families will continue (the protestors said they were being scrapped) . I don’t think the protestors have been very straight about this. I’m pro the free school because I think we need a school that’s highly academic in the area.

Comments are closed.