The Lambeth NUT explain why they are holding a conference on primary school education in the borough, and inviting all local residents to it
One in ten primary-age children in London will be left without a permanent school place by 2016 unless the Government massively increases funding for school places. Already 11,000 children are being taught in temporary classrooms such as portakabins, and by 2014, this growing crisis will hit the capital’s secondary schools too.
The Tory-led Government made this crisis worse by cutting the country’s school-building programme in half despite a rapid growth in the birth-rate. Both they and London’s Tory Mayor see free schools as a solution to the problem. Yet free schools are not accountable to local communities, they are often set up in areas where there is no shortage of places, and many refuse to share information about their admissions policy or how they are performing – keeping parents in the dark and unable to make informed choices.
It’s time for a different vision. We need adequate investment in our children’s futures, with publicly funded schools being publicly accountable for what they do. Democratically elected councils are best placed to ensure schools are accountable to local communities and champion the rights of parents.
We will explore the future of primary education at a major conference on education in South London. The event will look at the future of the primary curriculum and how we can make it relevant to the children in London schools.
Keynote speakers include Steve Reed, leader of Lambeth council and executive member for Education at London Councils; Sue Palmer, author of Toxic Childhood; Katie Mitchell, Theatre Director and associate of the National Theatre; and John Coe from the National Association of Primary Education. The conference is free but places need to be booked.
We hope as many people as possible can join us. The London Primary Schools’ Conference will be held on Saturday 1st December, at Reay Primary School in Lambeth at 10am – 2pm.
For more details please email union@lambethnut.org.uk or sign up here.
