Lynne Featherstone

More young people are leaving secondary school without a single GCSE in Haringey than any other borough in London. Official figures (published in response to a Parliamentary Question by Lib Dem MP Sarah Teather) showed that over 1 in 20 fifteen year-olds left secondary school in Haringey last year with no GCSEs.

Despite Haringey Council following the London-wide trend of reducing the numbers leaving with no qualifications, the Lib Dem opposition is concerned that other boroughs with similar demographics have seen more dramatic reductions.

In 1997, Haringey’s figure was 11.4% and neighbouring Islington was 13.5%. However seven years on and Lib Dem-run Islington now has 4.4% leaving with no GCSEs, while Haringey’s is at 5.5%.

Cllr Gail Engert, Lib Dem Education spokesperson, is keen to get to the bottom of the issue.

Cllr Gail Engert (Muswell Hill) comments:

“Over 5% of secondary school leavers have no qualifications and this is unacceptable.

“There are certainly factors that need to be taken into consideration when viewing these figures, but the Government and Haringey Council needs to be doing more to target resources at this lost 5%.”