Campaigners delighted by school expansion decision (From Haringey Independent)

Campaigners delighted by school expansion decision

4:49pm Friday 12th October 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

Campaigners delighted by school expansion decision

Campaigners against the expansion of a school are delighted by the decision from an adjudicator rejecting the proposals.

Earlier this week the Office of the Schools Adjudicator announced it had rejected the plans from Haringey Council to expand Belmont Infant and Belmont junior schools.

Under the plans the two schools, in Rusper Road, Tottenham, would go from a two-form entry to a three-term entry in September 2013.

The expansion was met with fierce opposition from parents, governors and Labour MP for Tottenham David Lammy who urged the council to reconsider.

Lynne Hubbard, Chair of the Belmont Home School Association said: “We are delighted by the schools adjudicator’s ruling. Finally the concerns that we have been repeating for a year have been listened to.

“This decision supports our argument that local families are best served by community schools.

“Instead of warehousing children simply to make up the numbers, Haringey should concentrate on improving standards and school buildings across the borough.

“Hopefully the money which Haringey earmarked for this project will now be used to support Belmont and other Tottenham schools which are crying out for funding and repairs.”

The announcement form the adjudicator comes after a year of intense debate over the council’s proposal to build seven new classrooms on the playgrounds and gardens of the site.

In a statement the council said it was disappointed by the announcement and would not appeal the decision.