“Last Friday, [5 June] I visited Thomson House School in Mortlake, and I was delighted to hear the news that the school had recently been graded as ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. This is an excellent reflection on the hard work of the teachers at the school, as well as the behaviour and work ethic of the pupils. 

As some local residents may know, the Department for Education withdrew its funding for Livingston Academy, the school which was due to be built as part of the Mortlake Brewery development. While enrolment in primary schools in Richmond and across London has fallen, creating funding concerns for local schools, modelling has consistently reported that extra provision is needed for secondary school placements.

Amongst the matter of school placements in the borough, we discussed a range of issues impacting pupils at the school, including space for the pupils to play and safe crossings in the area.

I would like to thank everyone at Thomson House School for welcoming me last Friday.”

Comment: It is somewhat strange you might think to place such focus on the secondary school issue, which is now buried in the past. And no mention of Thomson House School’s wish for consideration of them moving their sites by the level crossing at Mortlake Station and in Vernon Road to the Stag Brewery site.

AND it was not accurate to write solely about the falling enrolment in primary schools, when the relevant issue is falling numbers within primary schools, such that consideration may need to be given to the viability of all schools in the area.

AND whose modelling? Is that the same evidence that was challenged at the Public Planning Inquiry eighteen months ago?

Is this merely continuation of a political trope?