A new community secondary school must be the first priority (Twickenham & Richmond Liberal Democrats)

A new community secondary school must be the first priority

July 18, 2011 11:31 AM

clifden • [Jul 17] COMMENTING on the Richmond's Council's announcement that it plans to buy the Richmond Adult and Community College site at Clifden Road, Twickenham and then offer it to the Roman Catholic church for a new Catholic secondary school, Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Cllr Malcolm Eady said:

"We welcome the Council's proposal to purchase the Richmond Adult and Community College site in Twickenham for a new secondary school. The steadily rising birth rate will, in 3 to 4 years' time, result in the borough requiring a new secondary school. If the Council's present administration continues to encourage existing secondary schools to reduce their 11-16 intake to provide space for post 16 provision, then this will further increase the need for more secondary school classrooms.

"However, given this urgent need for extra community secondary school places and that we do not know the level of Government funding for a new Catholic school and a community secondary school, it would be premature to offer this property to others. We support the Catholic archdiocese's wish for a state Catholic Secondary school in the borough, but, with uncertainties over available resources, it should not be at the expense of community secondary school provision. The latter must have the first call on available public money and land. I hope the Government will fund both."

• Purchase Of [the Clifden Road] Site For The Provision Of School Places [LBRuT cabinet paper 21/07/11]

Extract: ' . . 3.13 At secondary level, Richmond upon Thames is one of only two boroughs in London that does not have a state Catholic secondary school. As a result, children whose parents want them to be educated in Catholic state schools have to look outside the borough. At its meeting on 5 April 2011, Council received a petition calling for the establishment of a state Catholic Secondary School in the borough. There was cross-party support in favour of provision for a state Catholic school. It must be stressed however that this Council level support does not represent a decision to provide this type of school at the Clifden site. That would be a separate decision from that which is before the Cabinet in this report.'

• ePetition : 'WE . . petition the council to ensure that every state-funded school opening in the borough from now on is inclusive . . '

• Creating a new school: the rules

' . . 1.9 Where Councils have identified a requirement for a new school the Department for Education (DfE) introduced procedures for creating a new school established under The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA2006) and The School Organisation (Establishment and Discontinuance of Schools)(England) Regulations 2007 (as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2007 which came into force on 21 January 2008 . . where the Council wishes to see a new school established they must either:

• Invite proposals for the school as provided for in Section 7 of the EIA 2006 Regulation 2007. This process is generally referred to as a "competition" and is expected to be the route by which most new schools will be established.

or • Apply to the Secretary of State for consent to publish proposals for a new school without running a competition. This is consent to publish proposals only and is not permission to establish a new school. Therefore, where consent is granted to publish proposals, it is not permission to establish a new school. The normal statutory process would still apply i.e. Consultation; Publication; Representations; Decision (by LA or schools adjudicator).

or • Work with the Secretary of State and sponsors to establish an Academy;

or • [For new maintained nursery schools and new 16-19 schools only], publish proposals for the new school under Section 11 of the EIA 2006 .

The Government wants schools to become self-governing and to form relationships with external partners. Voluntary aided schools along with Foundation schools, Trust Schools and Academies are all self governing schools. These types of schools all benefit from external partners who can bring energy, expertise and innovation to strengthen governance and help raise standards . . '

• Source: Barking Council report, 21/12/10.

• Catholic school, parking fines and libraries on the agenda for key council night [RTT Jul 22]

• Richmond Council announces site for Catholic secondary school [Richmond Informer Jul 15]

• Site found for new Catholic secondary school in Twickenham [RTT Jul 15]

• New Secondary schools for Richmond! [Mumsnet Talk]

• New Secondaries for Richmond Borough? [Mumsnet Talk]

• Richmond Inclusive Schools Campaign

• Accord coalition