Lambeth's priorities - what do you think?

[meditrina]

I've seen two stories about education in Lambeth in the last couple of days.

a) They cannot guarantee to have enough primary places by 2015 and are seeking a further £50m from central Government to fund more places.

b) This one primary school gets £17m to offer weekly boarding outside London.

As well as the questions that must follow about the desirability of primary-age boarding, it does seem odd to put so much into one initiative when the money is clearly needed elsewhere in their primary provision.

But imagine being able to send your kids away Mon-Fri [Dreams Wistfully]

It's interesting that the DoE refers to Durand Academy as one of London's best primary schools. There are several outstanding primary schools in Lambeth which by most measures are better schools that Durand.

I live in Stockwell - wow, is Durand really classed as one of London's best primary schools? Interesting.

We don't have school age children (yet) so I'm following these stories with interest. I asked a neighbour about Lambeth school options: she suggested we "try the bus to Dulwich"

On closer reading, the BBC article says:

"The government has committed £17m"

"The Department for Education's £17.34m, which will be spread over four years...."

"The Department for Education said the money came from a portion of the schools capital budget dedicated to "policy priorities" such as free schools and academies."

It sounds like the Government will give £17m to support a pet project, but won't give £50m to fund primary places across the borough.

Lambeth & the Government going head to head over what they will & won't fund rather than Lambeth having confused priorities.

The Government will also be funding Katharine Birbalsingh's Free School - I suppose that's another "policy priority" - and I wonder if that will be at the expense of the other State secondaries in the borough, some of which were sink schools under the last Tory Govt but are now outstanding schools...

Sorry, I waffled a bit - I mean by this:

"It sounds like the Government will give £17m to support a pet project, but won't give £50m to fund primary places across the borough."

that the Government will give £17m directly to this one school, but won't give the £50m Lambeth is asking for, to fund primary school places for all.

It's not Lambeth that's asking for the £17m for Durand, its Durand asking the Government directly.