• IN response to the letter from John Stratton (There could be a deal on empty classrooms, December 5), having spent five years of my life working full time, I will continue to “bang on” about the importance of the Abacus school to rest in its final home at the old Hampstead police station, so watch this space!

He cannot blame Abacus for pollution and the lowering of the birth rate. He needs to look closer to home for that. Has he visited Abacus and read their commitment to the community?

Does he know that all free schools have to find their own premises? Daft but that’s the way it is.

Does he know that we spent two years working with Camden asking them to provide a school for our out-of-catchment children?

Does he realise the importance of primary school children walking to school and not being bused out of the area?

We had to write the curriculum for the school, and give a presentation to the Department for Education.

We all, the founders, gladly gave up our time to source education for the state-funded school which is part of Camden and outstanding.

LINDA GROVE
NW3