Put primary school closure to the test

3:53pm Wednesday 22nd August 2001

Here is a short test:

Your task is to decide which of the following two primary schools your friendly Greenwich Council is to close on its present site and move with great disruption to the site of a neighbouring school:

School 1: A school with falling rolls so dramatic it faces immediate closure. Several dozen children walk or are driven past this school each day. This school stands on a steeply sloping site, has, by common agreement, a grim exterior and rather gloomy interior. It has a backlog of maintenance costs in the region of £400,000. Its academic achievement levels are well below that of school number two.

School 2: An over-subscribed school. As stated above, many children from school one's catchment area attend here, as well as a number who reside in Bromley Borough. March 2001 brought another outstanding OFSTED inspection which glowed with praise at the level of teaching, the happiness of the children, and the whole ethos of the school.

This school stands on an idyllic site with a large, beautiful field (which in itself would be a sad loss to any community), and boasts a library extension (50 per cent paid for by parents and local residents.

ANSWER: That's right school two is the one to close on its present site and must move to the site of school one. The identities of the schools? School one is Ruxley Manor, Milverton Way, Eltham, and school two is Montbelle, Montbelle Road, New Eltham.

There is an overwhelming sense of loss and anger among the local population that a local authority like Greenwich is empowered to take action such as this.

New Eltham, once again, is treated by Greenwich Council in a cavalier, uncaring manner.

How I wish all the residents would withhold their council tax payment, until such time as we could join Bexley or Bromley Borough.

E J Jupp

Chanctonbury Close

New Eltham

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