'Incredibly unfair': Primary schools hit out at repeat London election polling stations demand

St Leonard's Church of England Primary School and Henry Cavendish have been requisitioned as polling stations for a by-election in the Lambeth ward of Streatham's St Leonard's ward on July 2. Both schools were used for the May 7 local elections only weeks earlier. Saiqa Ali, elected in May after remaining on the ballot despite a Green Party suspension, did not take up the role, triggering the by-election. Headteachers say closing again will disrupt students’ learning and require parents to arrange alternative childcare. Lambeth Council has statutory powers to request public buildings for polling, and the headteachers have expressed dissatisfaction while complying with the request.

"Two London primary schools have hit out being used as polling stations for an upcoming by-election only weeks after they had to close for the local elections. St Leonard's Church of England Primary School and Henry Cavendish have been requisitioned for use in the by-election in the Lambeth ward of Streatham's St Leonard's ward. Saiqa Ali, who was suspended by the Green Party over controversial social media posts, remained on the ballot paper for May's local elections and was elected to represent the ward last month. Her decision to not take up the role has triggered a fresh election, due to take place on July 2."

"But headteachers at the schools argue the use of their premises for the second time in two months will cause further disruption to student's learning and force parents to find alternative childcare arrangements. Both schools were used as polling stations in the May 7 elections. In a letter from the headteacher at Henry Cavendish, Matthew Aspley, said the school was not happy with the request made by Lambeth Council. To be asked to close again less than two months later causes significant and unnecessary disruption to our pupils' learning and to your own work and childcare arrangements, the letter read."

"Councils in the UK have statutory powers to request public buildings, like schools and fire stations, for use as polling stations. The head teacher of St Leonard's Church of England Primary School, Simon Jackson, holds the same view. Voters went to the polls on May 7 While he has complied with the request, Mr Jackson told parents he had made his feelings known to the local authority. It feels incredibly unfair that our children must bear the consequences of an adult's actions by losing a day of their education, he wrote."

Read at www.standard.co.uk