Yes, after closing the library, Lewisham plans to close another valuable community resource; the Kirkdale Adult Education Centre. There is a public consultation at the Naborhood Centre on April 7 at 7.00 pm. I'm sure if people go and suggest it is not a good idea, the Council will change its mind.
After the Kirkdale Adult Education Centre and the Library have closed, will there be anything else left in Sydenham to close? Still, at least we''ll have a nice refurbished High Street to walk past the empty shops on and we will be able to admire the mosaic on the wall of the Narborhood Centre.
Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
In triplicate.
Yesterday I received three separate letters with the same colour printed notice of this public meeting, including one which had my address wrong - visible in the photo above, so congratulations to the Royal Mail here.
To anyone who looks carefully at this address, I would like to make clear that I am not and never have been a member of the SS.
Yesterday I received three separate letters with the same colour printed notice of this public meeting, including one which had my address wrong - visible in the photo above, so congratulations to the Royal Mail here.
To anyone who looks carefully at this address, I would like to make clear that I am not and never have been a member of the SS.
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
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Last edited by mummycat on 17 Jul 2011 22:03, edited 1 time in total.
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BruceHarrison
- Posts: 98
- Joined: 9 Apr 2010 14:52
- Location: Sydenham
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
The petitions to save Lewisham libraries attracted more than 20,000 signatures - sufficient to make the council take notice.
Let's see if we can get as many signatures now against the proposed closure of the Kirkdale adult education centre in July.
All we want is that the Mayor and council should consider alternatives to complete closure of this centre for adult education in west Lewisham by exploring viable alternatives such as sharing the premises with the adjoining school.
Here's the link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save ... institute/
Let's see if we can get as many signatures now against the proposed closure of the Kirkdale adult education centre in July.
All we want is that the Mayor and council should consider alternatives to complete closure of this centre for adult education in west Lewisham by exploring viable alternatives such as sharing the premises with the adjoining school.
Here's the link http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/save ... institute/
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
The Council blames central government for cutting funding through the Skills Funding Agency and is aiming to “consolidate” provision at three sites; Brockley Rise, Granville Park and Grove Park.
It will be interesting to see if staff costs are given as the primary saving. The site is quite large and could be developed and I wonder if selling off the land will emerge as the favoured option for the Council after provision has been consolidated.
We’ll find out more on the 7th I hope.
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvent ... leSite.htm
It will be interesting to see if staff costs are given as the primary saving. The site is quite large and could be developed and I wonder if selling off the land will emerge as the favoured option for the Council after provision has been consolidated.
We’ll find out more on the 7th I hope.
http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/NewsAndEvent ... leSite.htm
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Chris Best
- Posts: 440
- Joined: 6 May 2005 11:37
- Location: Sydenham
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
Yes Simon CEL feels that the best way to protect adult learning is to consolidate provision in three sites, rather than four. The bulk of the money for adult education comes from central Government, through the Skills Funding Agency (SFA). Funding from the SFA has dropped 18 per cent since 2006/07, and is set to be cut by a further 25 per cent over the next four years. Lewisham is seeking to protect as much of its adult learning provision as it can by using reduced resources in the most effective and efficient way.
Funding for unaccredited classes is set to be cut September 2012. This will have a major impact on CEL and on the range of provision that can be offered. It is therefore essential we make savings in the next academic year to ensure we can continue to offer as wide a range of adult learning courses as possible across the borough.
The SFA has also announced changes to concessionary fees that will take effect in September 2011. The SFA is to focus for funding on people with job ready benefits such as Job Seekers’ Allowance and Employment Support Allowance. This is likely to reduce the numbers of learners on many courses and we are campaigning to try to prevent the Coalition Government from changing the concessionary fee arrangements.
Why Kirkdale?
CEL currently operates from four sites across the borough: Brockley Rise and Granville are the two largest centres and provide over two thirds of the total CEL course provision; Kirkdale and Grove Park are the two smallest centres offering the rest of the course programme.
There are considerable limitations within the layout of the Kirkdale building which has affected the number and types of courses that can be offered there. Several of the teaching rooms have limited suitability – in particular first floor rooms that are interconnected and do not have their own separate entrances.
Access for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities is severely limited with many rooms and parts of the building that are not fully DDA compliant. There is no DDA access to the men’s toilets and a stairlift has to be used to access the ladies’ toilets and café area. Much of the centre is therefore currently unusable, yet CEL still has to fund the full running costs of the building. These limitations have meant that Kirkdale is under occupied with low learner numbers.
What will happen to courses that run at Kirkdale?
Most of the classes will be relocated to Brockley Rise which is less than a mile and a half away and is well served by a number of bus routes as well as having a car park. There is a direct bus route for residents who live near Kirkdale.
What will happen to the Kirkdale building?
Lewisham has a need to expand the number of primary school places across the borough and is looking at any Council building that becomes vacant to see if it may be suitable for primary education use. From an initial study it would appear feasible to make use or Kirkdale as an extension of the adjacent Kelvin Grove primary school.
Please come along to the Naborhood Centre at 7pm tomorrow, Thursday, evening to hear more and I will be listening to the comments and to see if we can work with the school to retain the workshop space.
Councillor Chris Best
Representing Sydenham Ward and Cabinet Member for Community Services
http://www.chrisbest.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris4sydenham
Funding for unaccredited classes is set to be cut September 2012. This will have a major impact on CEL and on the range of provision that can be offered. It is therefore essential we make savings in the next academic year to ensure we can continue to offer as wide a range of adult learning courses as possible across the borough.
The SFA has also announced changes to concessionary fees that will take effect in September 2011. The SFA is to focus for funding on people with job ready benefits such as Job Seekers’ Allowance and Employment Support Allowance. This is likely to reduce the numbers of learners on many courses and we are campaigning to try to prevent the Coalition Government from changing the concessionary fee arrangements.
Why Kirkdale?
CEL currently operates from four sites across the borough: Brockley Rise and Granville are the two largest centres and provide over two thirds of the total CEL course provision; Kirkdale and Grove Park are the two smallest centres offering the rest of the course programme.
There are considerable limitations within the layout of the Kirkdale building which has affected the number and types of courses that can be offered there. Several of the teaching rooms have limited suitability – in particular first floor rooms that are interconnected and do not have their own separate entrances.
Access for learners with learning difficulties and disabilities is severely limited with many rooms and parts of the building that are not fully DDA compliant. There is no DDA access to the men’s toilets and a stairlift has to be used to access the ladies’ toilets and café area. Much of the centre is therefore currently unusable, yet CEL still has to fund the full running costs of the building. These limitations have meant that Kirkdale is under occupied with low learner numbers.
What will happen to courses that run at Kirkdale?
Most of the classes will be relocated to Brockley Rise which is less than a mile and a half away and is well served by a number of bus routes as well as having a car park. There is a direct bus route for residents who live near Kirkdale.
What will happen to the Kirkdale building?
Lewisham has a need to expand the number of primary school places across the borough and is looking at any Council building that becomes vacant to see if it may be suitable for primary education use. From an initial study it would appear feasible to make use or Kirkdale as an extension of the adjacent Kelvin Grove primary school.
Please come along to the Naborhood Centre at 7pm tomorrow, Thursday, evening to hear more and I will be listening to the comments and to see if we can work with the school to retain the workshop space.
Councillor Chris Best
Representing Sydenham Ward and Cabinet Member for Community Services
http://www.chrisbest.org
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris4sydenham
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
There was some discussion of this at the SydSoc AGM last night, and since Christ Best happened to be there, she offered to answer a few questions - which seemed to me a perfectly reasonable thing to do. While I guess the general sentiment would have been that it would be nice to keep the building with its current use, I at least find the Council's position on this, given the constraints it's under, hard to disagree with.
There was also a short - and very topical - talk on the history of the building and its uses, from the always interesting Steve Grindlay. It's had various educational uses, so if it could now be used by Kelvin Grove School, there could hardly be any objections. On the other hand, how the school will be able to use and justify the expense of maintaining buildings of such historic interest is going to be difficult.
There was also a short - and very topical - talk on the history of the building and its uses, from the always interesting Steve Grindlay. It's had various educational uses, so if it could now be used by Kelvin Grove School, there could hardly be any objections. On the other hand, how the school will be able to use and justify the expense of maintaining buildings of such historic interest is going to be difficult.
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
Im sure if the Council employs an innovative Architect they could obtain a Planning permission for the land fronting Kelvin and Franscombe Grove without spoiling the view or setting of the main building. This would then release funds to refurbish and maintain the place for the prinmary school ?
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
I attended the meeting on the 7th and my impression is that Lewisham have already made up their mind to close services for adult learners in Sydenham.
It is possible the school might be interested in taking over part of the building. But only part.
I asked why the building could not be shared as an educational facility for all ages. I got pretty short shrift. But really, I think this is the best solution. Other Councils do this. My old schools (one in Edinburgh and one in Hampshire) remain open in the evening for adult learners, as well as for after school clubs. They also run summer schools, open the gym and playing fields to the community and actively market use of the hall and catering and other facilities.
I have lived on Kirkdale for nine years. At first we received marketing from the Institute: including the prospectus. Nothing (not even a flyer) for the last few years. On hearing the Centre was likely to close, I was speaking to some neighbours who have lived here for about a year. They didn't even know what the building was. They thought it was part of the school.
If valuable resources like the Kirkdale Institute are not marketed effectively and imaginatively then inevitably they will become unviable. Lewisham have created a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It is possible the school might be interested in taking over part of the building. But only part.
I asked why the building could not be shared as an educational facility for all ages. I got pretty short shrift. But really, I think this is the best solution. Other Councils do this. My old schools (one in Edinburgh and one in Hampshire) remain open in the evening for adult learners, as well as for after school clubs. They also run summer schools, open the gym and playing fields to the community and actively market use of the hall and catering and other facilities.
I have lived on Kirkdale for nine years. At first we received marketing from the Institute: including the prospectus. Nothing (not even a flyer) for the last few years. On hearing the Centre was likely to close, I was speaking to some neighbours who have lived here for about a year. They didn't even know what the building was. They thought it was part of the school.
If valuable resources like the Kirkdale Institute are not marketed effectively and imaginatively then inevitably they will become unviable. Lewisham have created a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Re: Kirkdale Adult Education Centre to close
Hi everyone,
I'm writing an article for the South London Press on the closure of the Kirkdale centre and wondered if anyone on this forum would be interested in being interviewed. I'm looking for anyone who feels strongly about the issue, perhaps users or employees of the centre or people who have been active in the campaign against the closure. If you'd be interested in talking to me, please send me a message or call me on 020 8710 6478.
Thanks,
Jennie.
I'm writing an article for the South London Press on the closure of the Kirkdale centre and wondered if anyone on this forum would be interested in being interviewed. I'm looking for anyone who feels strongly about the issue, perhaps users or employees of the centre or people who have been active in the campaign against the closure. If you'd be interested in talking to me, please send me a message or call me on 020 8710 6478.
Thanks,
Jennie.