Cllr James Barber

As reported on Cllr James Barber’s blog, ‘outstanding’ school provider Haberdashers’ Aske Federation has announced it will open a new secondary school in East Dulwich, which will help tackle the shortage of permanent school places in the area.

The campaign for a new school has been led by the three Lib Dem councillors for East Dulwich – James Barber, Rosie Shimell and Jonathan Mitchell – who have been working hard to secure support for the project from Haberdashers’ and Southwark Council. Despite previously saying it would oppose a new school in the area, claiming no more were needed, the council has now been convinced to get behind the idea.

The Lib Dem councillors initiated the campaign for a new co-ed secondary school in 2013, following their successful campaign for new local primary schools, and have been canvassing residents about the idea ever since. They were also spurred into action after dealing with a number of cases of local families being offered secondary school places outside the area.

Southwark Liberal Democrats will continue to push for more new schools – primary and secondary –  and have committed in our 2014 local elections manifesto to getting more new schools in Southwark where there is a need.

The East Dulwich Liberal Democrat team still welcome further support from local parents via their dedicated website at www.newschool.org.uk.