Agenda item

The following petitions have been submitted in accordance with Standing Order 68:

(i)         Mapesbury Dell - Exemption from Event Charges

(ii)        Petition to oppose the expansion of Bryon Court Primary School from 3 form entry to 5 form Entry (from PABCSE)

(iii)       Petition to oppose the expansion of Bryon Court Primary School from 3 form entry to 5 form Entry

Details attached.

Noted.

Mapesbury Dell – exemption from Event Charges

A petition was submitted by Mr Tom Putnam on behalf of Mapesbury Dell Trust which requested an exemption from the current charge of £30 levied by the council for holding community events. Mr Putnam reminded the Cabinet of the voluntary work of residents to raise funds to develop and maintain the site since 2000 prior to which it had been neglected. There was free admission to annual community events and all profits were ploughed back into the work of the trust. He asked the Cabinet to recognise the residents’ invaluable contribution and to amend the exemption from charges so as to include properly constituted groups such as the Mapesbury Dell Trust.

Bryon Court School proposed expansion

Martin Dickens (Chair, Parents Against Byron Court School Expansion) addressed the Cabinet and spoke against the proposals to expand the school by two forms of entry from September 2015. Mr Dickens stated that based on the number of signatures to their petition, it was estimated that 85% of families were against the expansion. He felt the proposals should  be rejected both on educational grounds and also in view of the likely increase in traffic. Mr Dickens also drew attention to evidence of a decline in school standards; the school had been judged by Ofsted to be Outstanding two years ago believing that expansion would undermine attempts for improvement. Mr Dickens referred to an increased risk of accidents as more cars travelled to and from school on the narrow roads. He acknowledged the need for more school places but felt these should be within walking distance from children’s homes and in small schools.

Kaye James (Sudbury Court Residents Association) drew members’ attention to the correspondence recently issued by Barry Gardiner MP which the Chair confirmed had been circulated to Cabinet members. Ms James rejected economies of scale as an educational justification for expansion and regretted the loss of opportunity for children of different age groups to be able to interact in the reduced playground space.  Ms James referred to the school’s declining position in league tables and some parents’ refusal to send their children to large schools. Existing problems in the area were perceived to be road rage, traffic and illegal parking and Ms James felt that the council should respect the views of the majority of parents and spread resources to other schools.

Richard Sternberg spoke on behalf of the Chair of the school’s governing body. He was confident that the procedures embedded in the school would ensure continued improvement in standards. Ms Martine Clarke, Executive Head Teacher, spoke about the school’s wider remit in the Brent Schools Partnership in teacher training, providing specialist leaders and development research. The sharing of good practice would help to raised standards. Ms Clarke referred to the social needs of the immediate community and the value of integration and celebrating diversity. A larger school would increase opportunity for after school and holiday clubs and extra curricular activity and the school would work to reduce traffic congestion. Ms Clarke was pleased to report that the school was already improving to be above national expectations.