| |
Bias against the C of E?
• COUNCILLOR John Bryant is entitled to his personal opinions but he was not elected to impose them on us for the sake of his own political career (Leak reveals school plot to win votes, December 6).
He was elected with a “consultation” mandate; to listen to the people he represents and act in their interests.
It was a puzzle when he recommended that Camden should open a University College London academy because in doing so he ignored the case for a Church of England school, the popularity of C of E schools with many parents, the annual scrum of children seeking places at C of E secondary schools in other boroughs, and the a volume of support expressed for this option in both consultations.
Many (including me) have hypothesised in these pages that the consultations were a sham. The puzzle was why Camden would choose to run but then ignore its own consultation? The puzzle has been solved. Cllr Bryant had made up his mind by the start of July that he was opposed to any new faith school, and no consultation findings to the contrary were to be allowed to throw him off course.
I attended a meeting between Cllr Bryant and a representative from the C of E in July, when the C of E was invited to outline its proposals. Cllr Bryant later said publicly that this had been a “fair hearing” for the C of E plans (although it hardly felt like a fair hearing). But now we know that in his own mind the option had been ruled out before he had any idea of what the C of E might offer.
With jaundiced views like this at the very top of the council no wonder Annie Williams, head of the outstanding Holy Trinity and St Silas School, felt it necessary to comment in the New Journal (November 29) that there was a bias against C of E schools in the borough.
That Camden Council would make the biggest decision of its term in this way beggars belief.
Cllr Bryant should realise that any trust we might have had in him has long gone. He should ask himself what many Camden residents will now be wondering: namely whether his continuing in post is in Camden’s best interests?
PENNY ROBERTS
Campaign for a Church Secondary School for Camden
East Heath Road, NW3
|
 |
|
| |
