shock merger: cobourg primary to go to cameLot

excluSive

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

pA reNTS A re bewildered after the shock announcement that Cobourg primary School in Burgess park is set to amalgamate with Camelot primary School.

A bombshell letter handed to parents on Monday, February 20, said governors have recommended the school moves to Camelot’s Bird in Bush Road site, Peckham, in September.

The letter indicated the proposed merger was motivated by the recent fall in primary-aged children living in Southwark.

Twelve Southwark primary schools are currently in a budget deficit and could face amalgamations, mainly because they don’t have enough pupils.

But some parents feel they have been caught off-guard. Rachel Morgan, whose son attends nursery at Cobourg, said there was lack of communication

“I’ve had no emails talking about funding and nothing like that so it’s a shock for everyone,” she said.

She added: “Everyone I’ve spoken to agrees it’s a really good school…my son loves it there so for him to have to move - it’s just not right, it’s going to affect their learning.”

Cobourg and Camelot have had a partnership for the last six months. The letter to parents said “the benefits of the partnership” had convinced governors it could be “made permanent”.

The letter also sought to reassure parents that every Cobourg pupil would be “guaranteed a place” at the new combined school.

All permanent teachers and teaching support staff will keep their jobs so students will continue to learn from “familiar faces”, the letter added.

Any final decision on the school’s future will be made following a consultation process.

Southwark’s struggle to keep schools open is well-documented, with twelve primary schools currently in a budget deficit.

An exodus of families due to covid-19, regeneration and Brexit, combined with declining birth rates, have decimated pupil numbers.

As funding is given to schools on a per-pupil basis, Southwark’s primary schools face a combined £2.8 billion budgetary blackhole.

In December, Southwark Council approved its schools strategy which said closures and amalgamations would be used where necessary.

“I’m optimistic that we can limit the damage and limit the school closures by having this joined-up approach,”

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Cllr Jasmine Ali, Southwark Council’s schools chief, told the News at the time. Some people also say it’s a shame that Cobourg could leave the park, meaning students won’t benefit from the greenery and recently added amenities.

In recent years, the council has relandscaped the park, added new cycle paths, extended the lake and built new football pitches.

Local resident David Williams, 62, who is friends with parents at the school, said: “They just spent a fortune on the park… I just think its outrageous!

“It’s a shame to move them from an ideal learning environment to what is in effect a concrete jungle by a very busy road!”

St Francesca Cabrini Primary School, Honor Oak, will shut in September and Townsend Primary School, Walworth, is also consulting on closure.

Parents at both Cobourg and Camelot are invited to meetings at Cobourg Primary School on Thursday, February 23. They will be held at the school 9.30am, 3.30pm and 6pm. The 6pm meeting will also be available online.

Parents will be able to put their questions to a Southwark Council officer, Executive Headteacher James Robinson and Chair of Governors Juliette Young.

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Hidden Gem: The Victorian bollard dubbed ‘the silent sentinel’

By Herbie Russell herbie@southwarknews.co.uk

A liTTle-known victorian bollard has been silently protecting walworth pedestrians from horses, carts and automobiles for roughly 100 years.

Dubbed the ‘silent sentinel’ by social media users, the zebra-striped iron protrusion sits at the east end of Iliffe Street near the Pullens Estate.

Its exact birthday is unknown but its ornate features and hallmark suggest Queen Victoria reigned when it was constructed.

While the untrained eye might pass over this discreet symbol of a by-gone age, it has gained a reputation among bollard enthusiasts.

Bollard blogger ‘Bollards of London’ wrote: “Nice rounded top, wonderful small balls surrounding two edges and then the bollard tapers.

“The column which is an octagon which has a base that flairs outwards giving the bollard a much stronger wider base… a gem of a bollard.”

The hallmark at the base reads ‘The Thames Bank Iron Company London’an ironmongers responsible for many of London’s lamps, fences and posts.

The bollard’s home, the Pullens Estate, is also an area of historical interest. It was built by James Pullen, a local builder, who purchased the land and developed it from 1806 to 1901.

In 2012 the area, gained conversation status and the exceptional little bollard got several mentions in council documents.

Rumour has it that, in 2009, the bollard got a makeover when the Pullens Estate provided the backdrop to scenes in Colin Firth’s blockbuster ‘The King’s Speech’.

The estate was used to depict the 1930s home of speech therapist Lionel Logue and was covered in vintage posters advertising products like Bovril.

Rumour has it that the bollard got its distinctive black-and-white paint job during the 2009 filming.

However, a look through old images of the street show the bollard had its unique paint-job at least as early as 2008, suggesting it got a makeover sometime before filming took place