Building a new secondary school in Chelsea
The last few months have seen significant progress towards the Council's
aspiration for a new secondary school in Chelsea. The Department for Education
and Skills (DfES) has confirmed that it will provide feasibility funding for the
new school, which will be a Church of England Academy with science specialist
status. The Council, together with sponsor the Diocese of London and the DfES
are developing detailed plans for the school.
Many column inches have been written about the perceived strengths and
weaknesses of the academy programme in recent weeks but the Council is convinced
that an academy offers the best solution to the problem of a lack of good
secondary school places for our children.
Academies
In most cases, academies have replaced failing schools and as such, have had
to first deal with a legacy of underachievement. As there are no failing schools
in Kensington and Chelsea our academy will start with a clean sheet. Our need
for a new school is driven by the fact that just 36 per cent of our primary
school children find a place in a Royal Borough secondary school.
Academies are outside the control of the local education authority which has
led to them gaining an "independent" tag. However, they are not allowed to
charge fees and they must be 'all ability'. They can control their own budget
and set pay conditions for staff. Academies must have a "sponsor" who donates
£2 million or more towards setting up the new school. The remainder of the
capital costs are covered by the DfES. Once the school is established, the DfES
also meets the running costs.
The sponsor
The Council believes that the academy should be as strong pastorally as it is
academically. It is here that the Church of England has unrivalled experience,
and not just with practising Anglicans. In fact, the Church of England is one of
the biggest backers of academies with seven schools. Priority for entry will be
given to Christian pupils of all denominations for 50 per cent of the school's
places. The remaining 50 per cent are open to pupils from any or no religion.
"The modern Church of England secondary is a multicultural environment
open to people of other faiths. In fact the Church of England currently operates
150 schools in the capital including many of the finest."
Tom Peryer, Director of Schools for the Diocese of London
Science specialism
The academy will specialise in science. The Council's aspiration is that the
academy will form links with the great scientific institutions of South
Kensington. World class bodies like the Science Musuem, Imperial College and the
Natural History Museum have expressed support for the project. Our ambition is
for that support to have some practical expression that delivers better results
and opportunities for academy students and other learners.
Feasibility phase
In May, the DfES confirmed that it had released funding for a feasibility
phase. The funding covers areas such as project management, consultancy,
transitional management and staffing costs. In effect, this funding covers all
the costs of preparing for the academy. The feasibility phase normally lasts six
to nine months but it is not usual for it to take longer. At the end of this,
the Secretary of State for Education and Skills will review the progress and
decide if the project can proceed to the next stage - the signing of the funding
agreement to establish the academy. Once this agreement has been signed there is
a binding commitment to open the academy.
The site
The school will be built at Lots Road on the site of the Ashburnham Community
Centre. Of course this site is currently occupied and the Council has been
negotiating with the occupants to clear the site for the new school. In May an
agreement was reached with one of the occupants, Heatherley's School of Fine
Art, who will relocate to a brand new building on the Christiania site, just a
stone's throw away.
Become a "Friend of the Academy"
The ambition to build a new, high-performing Church of England secondary
school in Chelsea is a challenging one. There are many hurdles ahead. To clear
them the Council needs the support of people with experience, influence,
resources and passion. To find out more or to offer assistance as a potential
trustee, supporter or donor you are warmly invited to contact the Leader of the
Council, Councillor Merrick Cockell.
Write to:
The Leader
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Town Hall
Hornton Street
London, W8 7NX
Or email: theleader@rbkc.gov.uk.
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