Tory Councillors go to the bottom of the class

The Conservative Council decided that there was a surplus of school places in the South Hornchurch/Elm Park area and that a school would close. Putting aside the complete short sighted incompetence of this decision, when you consider the large housing developments planned for this area, the schools chosen beggars belief.

It has been decided that two schools will be amalgamated.

School A consistently surpasses the national average in the OFSTED league tables, School B falls below the national average.

School A has good access with plenty of parking, School B has lost half it's playground to cater for staff parking and it's only access is on the very busy Southend Road.

School A sits on a large site with plenty of scope to expand should the demand for school places increase in the future, School B is tucked tightly in between houses, streets and railway tracks with no room to expand.

School A can be expanded with minimal disruption to handle the pupils from School B. School B will need to be closed while the old buildings are demolished and a new two story building built.

School A serves as the only primary school in the west of the area. School B is one of many in the east.

Weighing up the pro's and con's of the two schools any reasonable person could only come to one conclusion, close school B. Not however the Conservative leaders of Havering Council. They have decided to close school A, Dunningfords Primary School.

This decision was sent to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on the 8th of May. This Committees role is to oversee the actions of the Council Administration without political bias. At this committee meeting the written opinion of a Barrister was presented. The whole opinion took about 10 minutes to read out to the committee. Barristers opinions tend to be complicated and full of legal terminology but not one of the Tory Administration Councillors asked a single question about the submission. The Barristers opinion was that the decision to close Dunningfords Primary School had been unreasonable in English Law and in conflict with Government directives. When these guardian angels of us the electorate voted on whether this absurd decision should be sent back to cabinet for review the vote was tied. As Chairperson Councillor Brice Thompson (pictured) had the deciding vote. Was she following the instruction of her Conservative masters when she voted on their side? Or, perhaps she was politically unbiased and abandoned common sense.

I wonder if those committee members who voted with the Administration are aware of the personal financial risk they have taken. Should this matter go before a judge who agreed with the Barristers opinion, these council members would have caused a financial loss for Havering with undoubtedly large legal costs. Under the law as it stands this would make them liable for a surcharge to cover the costs.

How did they come to the decision to close Dunningfords Primary School? A school which consistently out performs the national average. A school which provides the only primary education in that area of South Hornchurch. A school which has the land to expand as well as provide sporting facilities for the local community. I can think of only one reason. Dunningfords Primary School has more land which can be sold off to developers to fill the coffers of this morally bankrupt Tory Administration.

Once more they have displayed their contempt for the people of Havering and their needs. Unless of course I wrong. Angry of Havering invites any of the Councillors to respond on this article and we will publish their response in full. Of course if their actions can not be defended we will understand if they do not wish to respond.