At least we know where we stand now..

With great regret, we write to tell you that the Labour leadership of Lambeth Council has decided not to build the Nelson Mandela School in Brixton.

Council Leader Steve Reed and his colleagues have decided that the site recommended for the school is “unaffordable” and not “best value for money”. Instead, they choose to spend the capital budget on rubbish depot relocation.* At least Lambeth kids now know where they stand in the queue with this council.

Nearly five years ago Nelson Mandela gave us permission to use his name on a school in Brixton. His generosity allowed us to create the Nelson Mandela School Foundation (NMSF) so local people could raise sponsorship money to benefit Brixton, and gain support from the Department for Children, Schools and Families. Thousands of children, on our many school playground visits in Brixton, felt excited and honoured by Mr Mandela’s confidence in them and their neighbourhood. Lambeth’s decision against funding a site for the Mandela School leaves these children with no prospect of a local secondary, though Lambeth figures show they are the children most in need.

NMSF served on the Project Board set up by Steve Reed’s administration to seek a new school site in the borough’s centre. The board’s unanimous recommendation, which would have allowed the creation of the Mandela School, was never issued to the Labour group or the public. We must finally conclude that Lambeth’s administration has no interest in building the Mandela School. We will be dissolving the Foundation at our AGM next month.

We warmly thank the local primary school communities for their support—heads, teachers, parents, and children. We also thank the Department for Children, Schools and Families, for providing outstanding expertise to the 18 month long Project Board and promising £30m to build the Mandela School—if Lambeth would just provide a site. Our MP, Keith Hill, and neighbouring MPs Tessa Jowell and Kate Hoey provided essential support. Visionary Lambeth Labour Councillors supported the Mandela School’s new deal for children—Councillors Abrams, Akhtar, Aminu, Haselden, Ling, David Malley, Morris, O’Malley, Smith, and Wellbelove. We salute you all. Let right be done—someday.

Nelson Mandela School summary sheet

* £28,983,000 will be spent on rubbish truck depot relocation. The Mandela School site, as costed by the Project Board, would have cost £11,500,000-14,500,000.

If you know of any news to to with the campaign for new secondary schools let us know. Contact us at SSCIL