Dear Anthony,

Please find enclosed a report drawn up by the SSCIL committee on the recent consultation for the new secondary school to be built on the Henry Thornton site.

Below we re-state the aims of the Secondary Schools Campaign in Lambeth, which are backed up by SSCIL’s earlier findings i.e over 1000 signatures on petitions presented to Tony Blair in September 2001, hundreds of letters given to Keith Hill MP in April 2002 and the stakeholders meeting organised by the campaign in October 2001.

• Places for the maximum number of children in central Lambeth (Clapham, Brixton, and Herne Hill), as these are children “bereft” of any secondary school, as noted in the Goddard Enquiry.
• A close relationship with neighbourhood primary schools, so large cohorts of children from these schools have the opportunity to go forward together into secondary school, effectively supported by primary school teachers.
• The best head teacher, regardless of faith.
• Governance based on local primary school model, including the head teacher, teachers, parents, co-opted members from local community including local business, the LEA, and representative of the sponsor.
• A democratically constituted governing body that hires the head teacher, and has the authority to run the school.
• A broad and balanced curriculum.
• A minimum of six-form entry, to adequately support the sixth form.
• Open in September 2003 to Year 7 children (the school could open in the Haselrigge school building, while construction is underway on the Henry Thornton site).
• A policy on children with special needs that mirrors that of our primary schools, so all children can stay within their communities.