Who are we and what do we want?

We want a new state-funded, non-selective, secular secondary school in a part of Wandsworth where no such school exists. Our campaign is child-focused, socially inclusive and non-political. We seek only to improve parental choice about how and where our kids are educated. The current lack of choice means our children aren’t getting the start in life they deserve. A new local school will change all that.

The Campaign Team comprises a small group of motivated parents who live in the area - both mums and dads. We urge you to support our campaign so our local kids enjoy their childhood and make a positive contribution to the community and society at large. In short we care about 'choice' not 'availability' - there is a crucial difference.

The problem

There is no state secondary school in South Battersea; the seven square miles served by a number of local primary schools, including High View and the two largest primary schools in Wandsworth, Belleville and Honeywell.

• No school. No choice.

If parents in South Battersea cannot, or choose not to pay to educate their children at secondary level, their options are limited; especially as distance is one of the first things schools use to exclude applicants. No surprise then that Wandsworth has the worst record in London for satisfying parental choice.


• No school. No chance.

Last year, our closest secondary, Chestnut Grove, received 777 applications for 150 places. The next closest, Salesian College, is only an option for Catholics. So Year 6 pupils leaving Belleville and Honeywell are forced to scatter far and wide, and over the past four years, have ended up at 49 different schools.


• No school. No community.

In a borough that’s growing fast (the birth rate in Wandsworth has risen by 51% over the past eight years) the problem is only going to get worse. Going forward, we’re likely to need 20% more school places; forcing more parents to settle for less, more children to travel further, and more families to leave South Battersea in search of a good state school.

The solution

A new neighbourhood school for all - state-funded, secular, non-selective and easy to get to. In short a small, socially inclusive secondary school where:

• We have an exceptional head teacher with outstanding track record
  
• Great teaching and tough discipline go hand in hand
• Parents have a real say in the way things are done
• The brightest students are stretched and strugglers thrive
• Every student is surrounded by friends who live locally
• Good resources underpin a broad, balanced curriculum
• Endless opportunities are offered and taken up
• Self-respect and respect for authority are top of the agenda
• Standards and performance levels are correspondingly high.
• We believe in the principle of good local schools and children of all backgrounds being educated together

The benefits

A school like this, full of happy, healthy students who enjoy their childhood and their education, will turn out confident, well-rounded individuals who go on to make a positive contribution to our community, and to society at large.

The location

This problem is real and our solution realistic, if we can secure a site. The site we are interested in is the one that used to house the Bolingbroke Hospital. The present structure was built with public money, and we believe it should remain in public hands. As a neighbourhood secondary school, it would work hard for local families. And if a new NHS clinic or community areas were needed, space could certainly be made in the development plans.

In this way, the Bolingbroke Hospital site would continue to serve the whole community and benefit all the project stakeholders; locals, parents, politicians, the NHS Trust and of course, the children!

Take action NOW!
If you support our campaign please take a minute to:

STEP 1. Sign the online petition here and join our campaign

• Name
• Email
• Post Code

Privacy statement: We respect your privacy and do not pass on details to third parties

STEP 2. Email our local politicians and express your support for the campaign:

Jane Ellison	MP for Battersea	jane@janeellison.net
Edward Lister	Leader Wandsworth Council	elister@wandsworth.gov.uk

STEP 3. This is YOUR campaign so let us have your thoughts here

• Name
• Email
• Comments

STEP 4. Forward our website to your friends and ask them to sign up!

• Enter your name
• Enter your friend's email address

Take action together and politicians take notice!

Publications

• Interview with WandsworthSW18.com – 21st June 2010
• Article in the London Evening Standard – 5th May 2010
• Article in the The Independent – 22nd April 2010
• Article in the Wandsworth Guardian – 14th April 2010
• Sky News appearance – 13th April 2010
• Article in the Wandsworth Guardian – 20th February 2010
• Article in the Wandsworth Council Brightside – 1st February 2010
• Article in the London Evening Standard – 16th December 2009
• Article in the Wandsworth Guardian – 1st December 2009
• Article in the Wandsworth Guardian – 19th October 2009
• NSC Summary article
• Response letter from Ed Balls
• Response letter from Michael Gove
• Template letter to Ed Balls
• Template letter to Michael Gove
• Template letter to David Laws

Copyright © The Neighbourhood School Campaign 2009 | All Rights Reserved

The NSC will at all times capture and process personal information in accordance with the requirements set out in Data Protection Act 1998