Musicians support campaign to stop demolition of school (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Musicians support campaign to stop demolition of Wandsworth school

11:00am Saturday 19th May 2012 in News By Matt Watts

Musicians gave support to a campaign to stop the demolition of a listed school building and the sale of playing fields to fund an academy.

The Save Elliot School campaign held a concert at the Bread and Roses pub in Clapham last night to raise awareness of Wandsworth Council’s plans for the secondary school in Putney, ahead of the closure of the public consultation over the proposals.

If the plans go ahead Elliot School will lose its listed gym, a technology block, six tennis courts, a football pitch, the outdoor theatre and the playground.

Campaigners estimate that 56 per cent of the present school will disappear and 60 per cent of all outdoor space will go.

The land would be sold off for housing to fund a multi-million pound development of the school, that is to become an academy in September.

The plans would almost halve the capacity of the school at a time when secondary schools in the borough are expected to start feeling the growing squeeze on school places already experienced at primary level in Wandsworth.

Perfomers, many who were former pupils, took to the stage, as a packed crowd turned out in defiance of the council’s plans.

The school has a well-documented alumni of successful musicians.

Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard from Hot Chip attended the school in the 1990s; The Maccabees, and The XX, while Kieran Hebden (aka FourTet) and the Mercury-nominated Emma Smith from Basquiat Strings were pupils.

It is hoped some of the big name musicians will perform at further concerts planned to highlight the campaign.

The last consultation meeting on the plans is being held today from 10am to 1pm at Elliot School.

This phase of the public consultation on the sale of the land ends on May 24.

For more infromation visit saveelliottschool.tumblr.com/