A SENIOR councillor has called on a free school's chairman of governors to "consider her position" after she described education standards in Croydon as worse than a refugee camp.
Charlotte Davies, head of governors at Paxton Academy Sports and Science, made the comparison while defending the difficult start the school has had since it opened in September.
Alisa Flemming, cabinet member for children, families and learning, wrote to the Advertiser this week to say she was "disappointed and saddened" by the comments.
"Perhaps it's time Ms Davies considered her position," she said, pointing to Darth Vader actor Dave Prowse, Arthur Conan Doyle and Amy Winehouse among the talents Croydon has produced or nurtured.
The row follows an article in the Advertiser which revealed Paxton Academy pupils were being taught in an office block in Purley Way for the first two weeks of term.
Lessons for the school's 62 reception-aged children were taken in Lombard House after the temporary buildings it was supposed to be housed in – on the grounds of a rugby club – were delivered late.
Cllr Flemming said the situation was a "big disappointment" which would not have happened if the council was able to open schools.
Ms Davies, who has experience of teaching abroad, responded by slamming education standards in the borough.
"The council might have had the school open and ready on time, but it would not have got good value for money. Neither would they be able to deliver the same quality of education," she said.
"I've taught in refugee camps. When I came back to Britain I was shocked at how low the standards were compared to Vietnamese refugee camps."
Readers of the Advertiser's website accused her of "utter arrogance" and of creating a "bad impression" for parents when Paxton "did not have proper facilities in place when they started the new term".
The comments also angered Cllr Flemming.
"I would not expect such comments to come from someone who seeks to represent the views of children," she said.
"Her words are not only untrue, but insulting and do not support and encourage our fantastic teachers to give children in Croydon the best education they can achieve."
Cllr Flemming said the council has been able to provide 1,560 new primary places to meet rising demand.
Ms Davies, she claimed, was "clearly unaware" of the "great talent Croydon has helped produce", referencing a wide variety of luminaries, albeit some with tenuous links to the borough's education system, such as Ronnie Corbett.
"I'm sure none of the above or indeed parents of children who currently attend Croydon schools, would liken their children's education to that of a refugee camp," she added.
Ms Davies had not responded to requests for a comment as the Advertiser went to press.
Cllr Flemming's letter
I AM both disappointed and saddened by the comments made by Charlotte Davies a few weeks ago in the Croydon Advertiser, when she suggested that children in refugee camps receive a better quality of education than that of our children in Croydon ("Free school pupils having lessons in an office block", Advertiser, September 26).
I would not expect such comments to come from someone who seeks to represent the views of children in her role as chairman of governors at Paxton Academy.
Her words are not only untrue but insulting, and do not support and encourage our fantastic teachers to give children in Croydon the best education that they can achieve.
This academic year, the council has provided 1,560 new primary school places and 72 new special educational needs places.
We are the largest growth borough and the residential population continues to rise.
Croydon is a fantastic place to live, raise a family and, indeed, educate children, young people, and adults.
Charlotte Davies is clearly unaware of the great talent that Croydon has helped to produce.
Writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of Sherlock Holmes, and composer Samuel Coleridge Taylor were long-term residents of South Norwood.
Croydon has helped to produce some of the biggest talents in British music, the late Amy Winehouse, Kate Nash, Jessie J and Leona Lewis.
Billionaire Sir Philip Green (the owner of Top Shop), comedian Ronnie Corbett and Dave Prowse (Darth Vader in Star Wars) have also lived in Croydon.
I'm sure none of the above, or indeed parents of children who attend Croydon schools, would liken their children's education to that of a refugee camp.
Perhaps it's time that Ms Davies considered her position.
