Secondary education in Lambeth expanding and improving

12.51.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 28th Jul 2005

Liberal Democrats in Vauxhall support Lambeth's recent decisions on improving and expanding secondary education in the borough.

The Council aims to have at least one mixed non-denominational school in each of the five Lambeth 'town centres', to meet diversity of need and provide parental choice in the borough. Additional places towards the target of 80% of Lambeth children attending schools in Lambeth will be created by expanding some existing mixed, non-denominational secondary schools.

Lambeth will gain two new secondary schools: one parent-promoted school in West Norwood and a 'city academy' in Brixton. The Council has already spent £1m to ensure the early establishment of the Lambeth Academy in Clapham and is now committed to greater costs for the new Brixton school. Lib Dems have already managed to get 90 additional Year 7 places in popular local schools around the Borough. This is in addition to the 180 places added at the Lambeth Academy this year.

Labour lies are nailed

Labour, meanwhile, is claiming that there isn't a new secondary school for Brixton. The truth is that the new Brixton secondary school will be about 300m from Coldharbour Lane and Railton Road, situated between Shakespeare Road and Loughborough Park!

A sensible approach

As most Lambeth parents want places at popular local secondary schools and the Council plans to rebuild and refurbish secondary schools, additional places can be added as part of these works. Adding an extra six entry forms to already popular non-denominational schools is a speedy, flexible option that avoids the risk of over-provision through whole new schools.

The 'Thames Water' site campaign

Acquiring all the land at the Brixton Hill site could cost up to £40m even before decontamination and building costs are considered. This could bring the total cost of the project to between £50m and £70m. The land is owned by 13 different people and it will be a slow process to sort out compulsory purchase. Labour may want to spend this kind of money, but financial planning was never their strong suit.