With the Brent Council Executive due to approve more primary school expansions on August 20th the impact on the amount of play space available to children will be a factor. Some expansions could mean increases in the numbers of children and less overall play space available than at present, while others will add more storeys to existing buildings and maintain existing play space but for increased numbers of children. There has been talk of designing rebuilds with roof top playgrounds that still exist today in some of the Victorian inner city school buildings. It is possible that there will be schemes involving the selling off of existing play space for housing to finance expansion, although that looks less likely following the securing of government funds.
Some secondary schools becoming academies may be tempted to seek additional capital through selling off some of their land.
School play space and playing fields have become an issue during the Olympics and the Green Party's Children and Families spokesperson has intervened in the debate:
Childhood obesity is linked to a host of illnesses including Type II
Diabetes, Congestive Heart Failure and Cancer. A poor diet and lack of
exercise are the main causes of childhood obesity. Tragically little is
being done by the Government to benefit schools in tackling these
contributory factors with little spent on nutritious school food and
Michael Gove committed to selling off yet more playing fields.
The Green Party believes that it is imperative to preserve children’s
playing fields. The Conservative and Liberal Democrats coalition agreed
with us in the beginning where they too “pledged to protect these
playing fields” . However, Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove
going back on his word and selling these recreational facilities to high
paying developers, it is very difficult for children to find an area
for them to keep fit. Ironically only this week Prime Minister David
Cameron expressed concern that too many top British athletes in the
Olympics attended private schools, and as a result, we are not as
concerned with “sports excellence” We cannot expect to have
children of the future succeed in sports by taking away their venues to
practice.
Green Party Green Party Families and Children Spokesperson, Emma Pruen comments:
Sport is essential to the emotional and physical health of the
nation, and the well being of children. Children who participate in
sport are proven to be happier and healthier. Insuring the fitness of
our children will save the NHS billions for years to come, yet for all
the posturing of our public-school educated government they are still
selling off school playing fields and reducing the time available for
sporting activities. This is so short sighted it beggars belief.
The
rising obesity levels and instances of childhood depression will only
get worse if Michael Gove continues with his selfish and short-sighted
plans. Cameron’s pronouncements about public school supremacy are
supremely hypocritical when the actions of his education minister will
ensure only privately educated children have the teaching and facilities
to become our next generation of medal winners. If we want the playing
fields of England to be filled with the next generation of Mo’s and
Jessica’s the government must stop selling those fields off to the
highest bidder.
T sign a petition opposing the sell-off of Elliott School playing fields (where GB women's football star Fara Williams trained) click on this
LINK
