ISSUE 71 AUTUMN 2017 Win a family ticket for Spamalot at New Wimbledon Theatre Outstanding Ofsted report for Rutlish School Construction starts on Morden leisure centre Historic Mitcham building to be restored with grant 2 The Leader of We asked Merton Council, Councillor Stephen In spring 2017, we asked a representative sample of 1,000 residents to tell us what they think about the council and our services. As part Alambritis, writes of this, we asked residents, both parents and people without children, for My Merton. what they thought about our schools. I’m a bit long in the tooth to have done GCSE’s – it was CSEs and O levels back in my day! But I still remember that stomach churning feeling on results morning. So it’s wonderful that Merton’s excellent schools mean so many of our young people woke up “You said” to top marks in the summer. We’ve worked hard to support our schools by Eight of every 10 parents of children in primary school said those building new classrooms, assembly halls and sports schools were good or very good; whilst only 3% thought they were facilities and improving standards. I’m delighted poor. This compares to 77% when the same question was asked in Rutlish is the latest of our schools to have achieved 2014 and is the highest ever rating in our residents’ survey. Around Outstanding status. two thirds (62%) of parents of pupils in secondary schools rated The council also got top marks over the summer. those schools good or very good, with 11% saying they were poor or I was humbled by the results of our residents’ survey very poor. This is higher than any time before 2012. which showed the best ever levels of satisfaction with the council. Record numbers of residents rated us as efficient and well run. With so many families choosing Merton as a great place to bring up their kids, we’ve also prioritised improving local facilities such as a new leisure centre We did: for Morden, a new library for Colliers Wood and a new stadium for Wimbledon. We’ve continued to We know how important good local schools are to families in offer free pitches to our Little Leagues and, despite Merton, and how much they help attract new people to live in the cuts from central government, we’ve kept all our borough. The numbers of children being educated in Merton paddling pools open. continues to increase and we want to make sure they have the best We’re also continuing the fight to keep our local opportunities at the beginning of their lives. To help achieve this: hospital at St Helier open. Yet again, the local l We have campaigned to make sure the Government’s new NHS is putting forward plans to downgrade or close funding formula for schools does not disadvantage children the hospital, or moving it to Belmont in Surrey. in Merton. We know how important consultant-led maternity l We have seen results improve across the maintained schools and accident and emergency services are to local in Merton, at Key Stage 2 SATs, GCSEs and at A level. families and we will fight to retain these services l We have created more than 4,000 new primary school places locally. To back our campaign see page 23. in Merton since 2007. With great schools, parks, libraries and leisure l We made sure that this year every child who applied was offered facilities, and top marks from local residents for how a primary school place, with more than 94% of children going to we run services, I know Merton will continue to be a one of their parents’ preferred choices. vibrant borough where families want to bring up their l We are supporting the Harris Federation to open a new children and give them the best start in life. secondary school in South Wimbledon to meet the continuing increase in demand for school places. Cover photograph: Pupils from Rutlish School with Headteacher Alex Williamson. Photography: Paul Tanner. mymerton Issue 71 • Autumn 2017 3 merton.gov.uk contact us contents merton.gov.uk/report-it Community Registering to vote: 020 8274 4901 News 4 Council tax: 020 8274 4904 The latest news from Waste collection services: around the borough 020 8274 4902 Benefits advice: Features 020 8545 4178 Cleaner, greener Parking: 020 8545 4661 10 Recycling – it’s worth it Libraries: 020 8545 3783 Anti-social behaviour Electric cars 15 hotline: 020 8274 4907 Environmentally-friendly Switchboard: 020 8274 4901 motoring My Merton is published by the Merton London Borough of Merton and is distributed free to 80,000 Arts Space 21 households in the borough four The borough’s times a year. newest arts venue Editorial [email protected] 5 minutes with 32 merton.gov.uk/mymerton Bilal Patel, Imam What’s on listings: at Morden Islamic Fill in the online events form at: Community Centre (MICC) merton.gov.uk/eventscalendar Adverts For all advertising enquiries Regulars contact [email protected] 7 Working life 17 The London Borough of Merton Outstanding Ofsted does not accept responsibility report for Rutlish school Our team of Neighbourhood for or endorse any products or Client Officers services offered by advertisers. What’s on My Merton costs only 25 12p a copy to produce Your guide to all that’s going on in Merton this autumn When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it. My Merton is printed on fully recyclable paper, Don’t forget to which is accredited by the PEFC Council (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest visit our website! Certification schemes). This edition of My Merton is distributed from 7 September 2017. merton.gov.uk/mymerton You can also follow us on: My Merton is: Distributed by London Letterbox 020 8940 0666 9 13 www.facebook.com/mertoncouncil www.londonletterbox.co.uk Designed by Celebrating Making Domino4 01932 988677 Mitcham’s a splash [email protected] @Merton_Council www.domino4.co.uk heritage in Morden Printed by Cliffe Enterprise Print Partnership Whenever you see this logo www.flickr.com/mertoncouncil 0845 601 9478 that means there’s a volunteering [email protected] opportunity to get involved in www.cliffe-enterprise.com www.youtube.com/mertoncouncil news 4 Keeping Merton informed Merton parks win Green Flag Award Park users were out and about John Innes Park, Dundonald the International Green enjoying Merton’s parks this Recreation Ground, Sir Joseph Flag Award Scheme for Merton tops summer. The council caught Hood Memorial Playing Field meeting high environmental up with some of them and they and Colliers Wood Recreation standards, being well LGBT index told us why they loved their Ground have been awarded maintained and having Merton is the top London local park: they provide a wild the prestigious accolade from excellent visitor facilities. local authority and 13th space for nature; they’re really overall out of the 39 local fun; they’re great for bowls authorities in the Stonewall and walking the dog and are Education Equality Index. places where people like to just This is the sixth year that hang out. Merton has completed Merton is lucky to be home the index to demonstrate to so many beautiful green its commitment to tackling spaces. Once again, the homophobia, biphobia borough is enjoying Green Flag and transphobia in schools. success. South Park Gardens, Activities have included the LGBT+ Health and Wellbeing conference; presentations and London primary school workshops delivered by students from Youth Ricards Lodge School in Wimbledon; plus a new Games LGBT+ youth group in Pupils representing Merton Morden, funded by the made a splash in the pool at the Merton LGBT+ forum. London Youth Games, winning The mental health of two medals in the swimming LGBT+ young people will competition. continue to be a priority during the next year. Paying in cash for parking? £1m support for Maia Dunleavy (pictured above) won a silver medal in looked after children the senior Girls 50 Metres Looked after children in Merton will benefit from a £1 million Freestyle and was part of the fund from the Department for Education. Senior Girls Freestyle Relay The council is one of six London boroughs in the South Team, which won a bronze London Commissioning Programme to receive a share of the medal. Also in the team were innovation funding to improve the supply of affordable, Kelly Bone, Sophie Whelan and high-quality accommodation for looked after children, From 11 September, parking Leah Thomas-Daye. including those in fostering placements. meters across the borough will The London Youth Games is The programme has pioneered work to meet the needs of only accept the new £1 coins. Europe’s largest sports festival children and young people in the care of local authorities, After that date, the old-style with pupils from across the involving them in developing services designed to support them. coins will need to be taken to a capital competing in 30 sports. bank to be exchanged. Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough • Merton – proud to be a Fairtrade borough news Keeping Merton informed 5 Have your Good Ofsted say on dog rating for control children’s services powers Residents are being asked Merton Council has received an overall “good” Ofsted rating for its Children’s Services, putting whether the current rules the local authority among the top performers in the country.