Eight primary schools to close? (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Eight primary schools to close?

June 25, 2010 12:00 AM

Islington Liberal Democrats have uncovered plans by the Labour council to close up to eight primary schools across the borough.

At a council meeting in June, Liberal Democrat councillors asked the Executive Member for Children, Richard Watts, if the Labour council would be closing any schools in the borough to save cash. At first he refused to answer the question before eventually conceding that "some difficult decisions may need to be made."

The Lib Dems have obtained the list of the primary schools that are potentially at risk because of their falling rolls and could be closed by the Labour council. The eight schools are:

• St Mary's Church of England

• Copenhagen

• Winton

• Moreland

• Newington Green

• Vittoria

• Hungerford

• St Andrew's Barnsbury Church of England

Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Councillor Paula Belford, comments:

"There is a real danger that these schools will be closed by the Labour council. We need to start fighting now to keep them open. I urge local parents and people who care about children's education in Islington to join the Lib Dem campaign to Save Our Schools.

"We won't stand by and let Labour get away with closing local schools. Labour said during the election campaign that 'education is a Labour issue' and that it was important for children to get a good education. But closing schools is hardly going to help and certainly won't provide a better education for local children."