WE HAVE arrived, yet again, at a period of crisis in the provision of sufficient and appropriate school places for primary-age children in Oxford.
Many schools are being asked to consider expansion and Cabinet last month voted in favour of one of these growing to become a three-form entry of as many as 630 children.
We are reminded that it was 1995 when a new primary was last opened serving Oxford’s children. We are told a lack of funds prevents any new school being considered at this time.
But we also learn the council is, despairing of any other solution, prepared to spend £2.6m of our money expanding the facilities at the city’s Catholic secondary so the school might offer ‘all-through’ schooling at its Cricket Road site.
The head has noted this will likely lead to a greater proportion of Catholic young people in his secondary, once the primary is up and running and sending its children to him.
No funds for a new community school: £2.6m for more Catholic provision, in the full expectation that the expanded school would rapidly exit LA control to join other Catholic schools in a multi-academy trust.
We would be investing in a primary school over whose governance we would have no influence or control and, in the eyes of many, further entrenching Christian privilege in the face of Oxford’s diverse communities of faith.
There are many close to our schools who feel they are not councillors’ to give away to academy ‘sponsors’.
Perhaps many more feel that the case for spending £2.6m in Rome is certainly not yet made.
PETER MARTIN (Catholic, lapsed)
Church Close
Bampton
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