What parents and local residents are saying

Some quotes from the petition against this scheme, which is now well into three figures - if you haven't signed it, just click this link.

 I was born in Richmond 73 years ago. Lived in Ham and Petersham for 62 of these years. My youngest daughter attended Petersham Russell School and then Greycourt School. My Grandaughter attended Petersham Russell and a few years ago became a member of the staff at Strathmore. All three of the schools have excellant reputations and I feel very strongly about the the changes being made. I still feel the loss of the icerink by meddling polititians making money by selling off land, and in the case of the icerink bad negotiations leaving the young people without the joy I had as a child. PLEASE LEAVE OUR SCHOOLS ALONE.

Both of my boys went to The Russell and one of the reasons that we chose it was for the large site surrounded by open space. These proposals would destroy the nature of the school and the surrounding area.

No - it would detract from learning for Russell School kids No - it would probably detract from Strathmore children compared with their current setup No - it would reduce the green/sports/open space per child No - it would create havoc with transport No - it would create congestion and confusion in shared hallways No - the two schools are too different to allow either to become best in class. We will end up with one school that is mediocre at both.

Outrageous mugging of a local community and with no attempt to disguise the commercial interests behind the amalgamation of 2 schools and the reduction of their free space

I am wholly opposed to selling off the land of Strathmore or Russell School. This sets a precedent for taking away our green space - something that is unique to London and this particular area we live in. The traffic is already horrendous with the parents of The German School dropping their children off just before the drop off of Russell children. There have been many times when I have a seen a near miss with a child and car - how does this proposal keep the children in the school area safe.

Why are extensive refurbishment proposals for both schools not being costed properly and considered? If funds are limited at times such as these then surely this is the most sensible approach, instead of demolishing what could be a wonderful set of buildings and re-building from scratch A HIGHER CAPACITY SCHOOL ON A SMALLER SITE. There seems to be very little logic to what is being proposed!


There's lots more comment at the petition - please sign it and also go the council website and tell the council you disagree with these proposals on their feedback form.

Thanks