Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on January 4, 2012 at 16:39

Cara

I was aware that a proposal for an all-through school (4-18) on the Broomfield Site had been considered a couple of years ago by Bowes School Governors, but was not progressed.

I believe it was initially connected to the Building Schools for the Future plans under the previous government to completely re-build Broomfield School - plans which despite being well advanced were scrapped by Michael Gove soon after the Tories won the 2010 election. It looks like these outdated "aspirations" to relocate Bowes School are still listed in the outline area plan.

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Permalink Reply by Cara Morgan on January 4, 2012 at 16:56

Richard

Thanks for your reply. I have just emailed our MP David Burrows about it for verification.

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Permalink Reply by John on January 4, 2012 at 16:57

There's more planning material, at three different "levels" here:

http://pinkhamwayincinerator.blogspot.com/2011/12/enfield-ladderswo...

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on January 4, 2012 at 16:58

You should also contact the Bowes Ward Councillors (details here)

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Permalink Reply by Doyougetme on January 6, 2012 at 21:49

Hello all.  looking at this document, and it's definately a new submission post the 2008 plan.  The conclusion of this:

"This document is intended to bridge the gap
between where the NCAAP was left in 2008/9
and now."

It seems that the council is determined to pack as much housing as it can into the area, without scant regards to the schooling required. With the greatest will in the world, 1200 new dwellings into this area won't have enough supply for the increased educational demand.

Seeing as we were unable to get our child into Bowes (first choice) in it's current location (we live on Goring Road), it will be even less likely in the future that Bowes residents will be able make use of a school further away at the wonderous, and freshly "Special Measured" Broomfield site.

Not good....

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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on January 11, 2012 at 11:33

This discussion sparked the interest of a reporter for BBC London 94.9FM Anna O'Neill who has taken up the story with Enfield Council and reports that there are: "no plans to move, relocate or close Bowes School at all. Council website two years out of date" (see the original message on Twitter)

It looks like the older proposals have simply been repeated in the current consultation document now online, without taking account of the different circumstances now in place.

The story was picked up from this forum and reported in the Enfield Independent by Tristan Kirk who repeats the Enfield Council assurance that there are no plans to change the school's location.

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Permalink Reply by Cara Morgan on January 11, 2012 at 12:16

Brilliant!! Thanks to Tristan for writing the article in the Enfield Independent and bringing up this matter to the Council. Thanks for drawing our attention to the article Richard. What a great forum this is for making things happen.

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Permalink Reply by Cara Morgan on January 11, 2012 at 12:17

Although I am still very confused and concerned that their stakeholder consultation is meant to be happening at the moment, as per the wording in the Council's own document, which I highlighted in my original post.

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Permalink Reply by Tristan Kirk on January 11, 2012 at 12:27

Hello, I'm Tristan Kirk, chief reporter with the Enfield Independent. 

I have posted an article on this issue online, and will be following it up with another article later in the day having spoken to the councillor in charge. 

The plan to merge the two schools was in the original document from November last year, but the cllr says that idea has now been shelved. 

i'm going to be writing more about the consultation, and have put the concerns about how widespread it is to the council. 

I'd be happy to speak to anyone who has views on the way this consultation has been run.  I can be contacted on tkirk@london.newsquest.co.uk

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Permalink Reply by Cara Morgan on January 11, 2012 at 14:22

Thanks Mary-Lou.

I think you are absolutely right about that. Local parents will be appalled at the plans. An online petition is a great idea. We can then inform local people of the web address in addition to email lists.

Cara

mary-louise clews said:

Great work Cara! 

And thanks to Tristan et al for publicising the story. I think Tristan's article shows this matter is not resolved. The quote "we have no plans...." is a classic misleading statement. They can say that at the moment because the merger is currently technically a 'proposal'. 

I think we need to keep putting pressure on the council to explain the existence of the proposal in the consultation document, and stop trying to dodge the issue. Perhaps we could start a petition of concerned local parents? 

If we could agree a wording, does anyone on the forum know how to set-up an easily used online petition? I have access to local NCT email lists as well as this forum so we should be able to get it signed.

Best

Mary-Louise

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Permalink Reply by Alison Clarke on January 13, 2012 at 17:36

I thought the idea had been dropped - which is a shame as it was an interesting proposal and worth considering.  Bowes School has many things going for it but I think the building is its biggest draw back. Its a nice building to look at but it was built over 100 years ago and you wouldn't design a primary school like that now.  When I was more involved there were problems with the windows - they couldn't be double glazed to cut down the noise from the road because its listed.  Things inside might have improved but the lack of outside space is still a real problem and although the extended playground helps they still have to stagger play times and there are rules about what day you can play football etc because there is not enough space for the number of children.

While the consultation about the 4-18 school was going on views were mixed and I seem to remember management of both school were  keen on the idea. I know it would have changed the catchment but maybe relocation could have created places for more children - whether or not the new flats are built, we still need new places in primary schools in the area.   

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Permalink Reply by Alison Clarke on January 13, 2012 at 18:27

My other half (who until this week was a parent governor at Bowes) just came in and reminded me that, as Richard pointed out at the start of the thread, the only reason for the proposal in the first place was because it (new buildings for Bowes and Broomfield) was all going to come out of Building Schools for the Future money.  As that fund was one of the first casualties of the coalition Enfield dropped the idea and it hasn't been mentioned at any meeting he has been to since since. I hope this helps

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