As a parent with two children at Willow Brook Primary School, I am deeply invested in the future of education in Leyton. My family loves living here and wants to remain part of this vibrant community for many years to come. However, following the closure of Lammas School, I am increasingly concerned about what this means for local families and the future availability of secondary school places in our area.

We, the undersigned, call on Waltham Forest Council, local education leaders, our MP and decision-makers to take urgent action to ensure the Lammas site remains in educational use and continues to provide secondary school places for local children, whether through a new trust arrangement, partnership with an existing school, or another sustainable solution.

For many families in this part of Leyton, access to secondary education is already becoming a challenge. While population forecasts can be difficult to predict, the reality on the ground tells a different story from the suggestion that local demand is disappearing.

Parents have seen primary school catchment areas shrink significantly in recent years, and this pressure is now being felt at secondary level. At the same time, substantial new housing developments across Leyton are bringing more families into the area, increasing future demand for school places.

Many households are already outside the catchment areas of popular local schools such as Chobham Academy, Leytonstone School and Kelmscott School. George Mitchell is an all-through school with limited external Year 7 places. As a result, many families are finding themselves without realistic local options.

This year, numerous local parents were unable to secure places at their preferred secondary schools, with many receiving lower-ranked choices or remaining on waiting lists. As neighbouring schools become increasingly oversubscribed, this problem will only worsen.

The closure of Lammas should not be mistaken for a lack of need. Local parents believe the school's recruitment challenges were linked to confidence in the school rather than a shortage of local children requiring places. The need for secondary school provision in this part of Leyton remains strong and is likely to grow.

Rather than allowing the site to be lost, decision-makers should explore every possible option to retain it for education. This could include transferring the site to another trust, expanding an oversubscribed local school, or establishing a new secondary provision that can serve future generations of local families.

Many families, including my own, cannot simply move into another catchment area. We love Leyton, have put down roots here, and want our children to grow up in this community. Yet without adequate local secondary provision, families may increasingly face the prospect of moving away simply to secure a school place.

This is not just about today's children. It is about protecting educational opportunities for future generations and ensuring that Leyton remains a place where families can live, thrive, and access good local schools.

We Call on Decision-Makers To:

• Retain the Lammas site for educational use.
• Conduct a thorough review of future demand for secondary school places in Leyton.
• Consider local housing growth and shrinking catchment areas when planning future provision.
• Explore alternative trusts, partnerships, or school operators to maintain secondary education on the site.
• Work openly with parents, residents and local schools before making any permanent decisions.

The closure of Lammas does not mean the need for school places has disappeared. Protecting the site for educational use is essential to securing the future of local families and our community.

Save Leyton's secondary school places. Protect the Lammas site for education. Secure our children's future.

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Every child deserves access to a good local secondary school.