After over eight years of campaigning and two years since the Government approved the council plans for a new school, the plans for a new boys’ school took a decisive step forward last night as the planning committee voted unanimously to back the plans for a school on the old boys school site opposite Peckham Rye.  There is not doubt that this is one of the biggest social needs for East Dulwich and I and my colleague Jonathan Mitchell were there to back the plans.

I’ve detailed some of the issues elsewhere on this blog and I still maintain my view that whilst I am sympathetic to those who just don’t like the idea of academies, this is the only game in town if we want a new school.

The key issue other than that has always been the size. The plan is for five forms of entry with a sixth form  – 950 pupils. I have been convinced of the merits of having a sixth form on the site -  particularly in setting a standard for younger kids to aim for.  The committee also heard evidence that the school will provide more external and internal space than other successful new schools. 

This is the only available site for a school in East Dulwich in council ownership and to underdevelop it and limit the numbers would, I feared, end up with the same sort of disappointment in the community as when the Charter School opened; that the new school everyone had been waiting for is found to be inadequate for the community’s need. For that reason I was pleased that Labour councillor, Gordon Nardell found no support for his wrecking amendment to limit the number of school places.   

Within the constraints  that many London schools’ have to operate I think that plans were well worthy of support. Now, finally, we will have decent, free local secondary education for boys. That has to be a good thing.