'School action is needed'

8:48am Thursday 27th December 2007

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A petition to force education chiefs to act and improve education in the north of the borough may not be enough, according to the campaign's organiser.

More than 500 anxious parents have already signed up to the cause, which is mainly focused on raising the bar at Shene School, recently issued with a "notice to improve" after Ofsted inspections.

But dad-of-two Paul Mason said he has considered a referendum to show the strength of feeling in Barnes, Mortlake and Sheen and has accepted drastic action may be what is needed.

The vote could be the second of its kind in Barnes, after members of the White Hart Action Group went to the polls earlier this year to demonstrate opposition to a proposed Sainsbury's Local store.

Paul said: "The support has been amazing. If we had got 100 names we would have done our job.

"But this petition is not against Shene School - it is a positive thing.

"The headteacher Lesley Kirby agrees with us as well, she wants the school to improve."

The group - mostly consisting of parents with children at primary schools in Barnes and East Sheen - has also mooted the idea of setting up a new school.

However they deny this will just lead to a further drop in standards at Shene School.

"There is a risk this could just look like middle-class people standing on a soap box, but it's not.

"We need to chat to the local authority and see what plans they have.

"Do they want to carry on with the status quo, do they want to close Shene School down or what?"

The petition will be handed to Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park, in January.