Secondary school faces possible closure (From Haringey Independent)

John Loughborough Seventh-day Adventist School, in Tottenham, faces possible closure

10:57am Thursday 20th September 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

A secondary school faces possible closure following a review of its educational standards.

Haringey Council Cabinet announced on Tuesday evening  it would consult about the proposed closure of John Loughborough Seventh-day Adventist School, in Holcombe Road, Tottenham.

The decision follows a review by the council and the Seventh Day Adventist Church which concluded the school does not meet the required educational standards and has not done so for some time.

Speaking at the council meeting the chair of governors for the school Samual Davis said: “We understand it has been a failing school and we recognise we have fallen short and needed to do something.

“We have taken steps to address those issues boosted the teaching and learning. Students are keen to stay at the school and parents want to help keep it open.

“We appreciate it is a difficult situation but the closure of the school will disrupt the education of the children already there and we are looking to go down the academy route.”

Parent Michelle Mathews, whose two children goes to the school said: “We as the parents really want the school to stay open.

“My daughter is about to do here GCSEs and if it were to close now it would greatly affect the education of her and other children.

“There is a strong bond at the school between pupils and their teachers we are pleading with you to understand the situation we are in as parents.”

Councillor Ann Waters, cabinet member for children, said: "We recognise and value the school’s ethos and its role in the community, but the school’s educational achievement is not good enough and, despite the support provided by the council and the church, it doesn’t show signs of sustained improvement.

"We firmly believe that because of the poor outcomes for pupils attending this school and the lack of improvement, children at this school would have a better chance of educational achievement if they were to attend other schools.

"We will take into account the position and best interests of all the children if we take the decision to close the school. I ask everyone involved to let us know their views via the consultation process."

The review focused on a number of areas of the school including the quality of education provided, pupil attainment and the financial situation at the school.

Last year John Loughborough School was put in special measures by Ofsted and the school has said it is looking for a sponsor to turn the school into an academy.

The council will start the consultation on the possible closure of the school from October 1 until November 19.