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http://www.hamhigh.co.uk/content/camden/hamhigh/news/story.aspx?brand=NorthLondon24&category=Newshamhigh&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newshamhigh&itemid=WeED09%20Aug%202007%2015%3A40%3A05%3A610
AN AWARD winning special needs school which was set to disappear under Camden Council's plans to build a new secondary has been thrown a lifeline.
Frank Barnes school for Deaf Children on Harley Road in Swiss Cottage will be flattened to make way for a £30million secondary school, which is set to open in 2011.
When the council first announced the proposal last autumn it admitted the school would probably have to be relocated outside the borough.
This statement left bosses at Frank Barnes worried they would be cut adrift to fight for their future but under pressure from governors and staff, Camden Council has agreed to look at various alternatives.
Schools chief Andrew Mennear said: "We have committed to work closely with the school to find a solution for Frank Barnes that en-sures the best possible specialist education for Camden's deaf students.
"This is an extremely important decision and we will be working closely with the school and listening to parents and residents before weighing up all the options."
Frank Barnes is currently at-tended by around 40 children with severe hearing problems from all over London.
And one of the council's reasons for demolishing the school is that only three of its pupils come from the borough.
During a controversial meeting on July 25, shortly after confirming the new secondary would be built on the site of Frank Barnes and run by University College London, the executive members of the council agreed to look at five specific solutions for the school. These are:
o Building a specialist regional centre for students from across London in Camden.
o Rebuilding the school alongside Primrose Hill primary in Princess Road.
o Turning an existing building somewhere in the borough into an appropriate location for Frank Barnes.
o Building a new base next to a current Camden school to cater for just eight students with hearing difficulties.
o Merging Frank Barnes with Blanche Neville school for deaf children in Muswell Hill.
Despite Frank Barnes governors' concerns, the council is keen on the last option because it may be achievable within the timescale set by the government for its massive investment in secondary schools.
When John Bryant, Camden's spokesman for children visited Frank Barnes he said the pupils were 'some of the happiest he had ever seen'.
"This is about finding a way forward for those parents who want to send their children to a school that teaches in British Sign Language," he said. "We want to secure the future for delivering the curriculum in this way."
Over the next three months bosses at Frank Barnes will begin fighting for their preferred option which is to create a regional centre in Camden.
The council is due to make a final report to the government in October.
AN AWARD winning special needs school which was set to disappear under Camden Council's plans to build a new secondary has been thrown a lifeline.
Frank Barnes school for Deaf Children on Harley Road in Swiss Cottage will be flattened to make way for a £30million secondary school, which is set to open in 2011.
When the council first announced the proposal last autumn it admitted the school would probably have to be relocated outside the borough.
This statement left bosses at Frank Barnes worried they would be cut adrift to fight for their future but under pressure from governors and staff, Camden Council has agreed to look at various alternatives.
Schools chief Andrew Mennear said: "We have committed to work closely with the school to find a solution for Frank Barnes that en-sures the best possible specialist education for Camden's deaf students.
"This is an extremely important decision and we will be working closely with the school and listening to parents and residents before weighing up all the options."
Frank Barnes is currently at-tended by around 40 children with severe hearing problems from all over London.
And one of the council's reasons for demolishing the school is that only three of its pupils come from the borough.
During a controversial meeting on July 25, shortly after confirming the new secondary would be built on the site of Frank Barnes and run by University College London, the executive members of the council agreed to look at five specific solutions for the school. These are:
o Building a specialist regional centre for students from across London in Camden.
o Rebuilding the school alongside Primrose Hill primary in Princess Road.
o Turning an existing building somewhere in the borough into an appropriate location for Frank Barnes.
o Building a new base next to a current Camden school to cater for just eight students with hearing difficulties.
o Merging Frank Barnes with Blanche Neville school for deaf children in Muswell Hill.
Despite Frank Barnes governors' concerns, the council is keen on the last option because it may be achievable within the timescale set by the government for its massive investment in secondary schools.
When John Bryant, Camden's spokesman for children visited Frank Barnes he said the pupils were 'some of the happiest he had ever seen'.
"This is about finding a way forward for those parents who want to send their children to a school that teaches in British Sign Language," he said. "We want to secure the future for delivering the curriculum in this way."
Over the next three months bosses at Frank Barnes will begin fighting for their preferred option which is to create a regional centre in Camden.
The council is due to make a final report to the government in October.