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NEW HIGH SCHOOL

NEW HIGH SCHOOL. UPDATE REPORT GREENFORD GREEN WARD FORUM 11 TH MAY 2008. Background. Increasing birth rates – by 2015 shortage of 2,300 high school places in borough Proposal is to meet this demand through expansion of some existing high schools plus a brand new high school

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NEW HIGH SCHOOL

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  1. NEW HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE REPORT GREENFORD GREEN WARD FORUM 11TH MAY 2008

  2. Background • Increasing birth rates – by 2015 shortage of 2,300 high school places in borough • Proposal is to meet this demand through expansion of some existing high schools plus a brand new high school • Long standing issue of no high school in Greenford – north of the A40 • Present administration manifesto commitment

  3. Increasing pressures • Shortage pressure will accumulate gradually • Already some evidence of ‘distance’ criteria getting shorter

  4. Current situation • Up to year 6 children in local area tend to go to local primary schools – e.g Oldfield PS, Coston PS • Year 7 onwards – Acton HS, Brentside HS, Northolt HS and West London Academy • But this increasing – example of Horsenden Primary School

  5. Initial trawl for sites • Consultants asked to evaluate all potential sites in north of the borough • Numerous sites evaluated – many rejected on grounds of size, transport links or potential planning issues (green belt land) • Report to Cabinet – two options indicated • Ealing Central Sports Ground, Perivale • Glaxo site (but initially focussed on main Glaxo site on Greenford Road)

  6. Continued …. • Report recommended adopting Ealing Central Sports Ground as preferred site • Ownership and cost key factor

  7. Problems and Events • Concern over choice of Ealing Central Sports Ground • Owned by the Council but an established open space • Would the location actually address the key problem of shortage in the Greenford – north of the A40 area? • Council did undertake to pursue Glaxo option further

  8. Glaxo – GSK Social Club site • Initial focus on Glaxo site had been whether part of main site on Greenford Road might be available – linking in with Berkeley Road playing fields. • Glaxo indicated that it was seeking to close/dispose of social club site on Oldfield Lane North • Land is Metropolitan Open Land – but developed part is around 2 acres.

  9. Continued… • High school buildings require a 2 acre footprint • Glaxo prepared to enter discussions with council to sell • Site becomes a viable option

  10. Going Public • During 2008 Glaxo announced publicly it plans to considerably downsize its operations in Greenford. • Council announces it is in discussions with Glaxo concerning Oldfield Lane North site. • Ward councillors hold event at Bridge Hotel

  11. Where are we now? • Council does not yet own the site • Sale has been agreed by the Glaxo Board • Respective lawyers at work. Heads of Terms agreement reached. • If no glitches – ownership expected to pass to Council around September. • Sale likely to include restriction of use on site for educational/community purposes

  12. Potential timeline • September 2009 – Council acquires ownership of site in Oldfield Lane North • 2010-2012 – Design of new high school and planning processes undertaken and completed • 2012 – Construction of new high school begins • 2015 – New high school opens • It should be noted that this is a rough timeline at present.

  13. 2009-2012 • Present buildings will not close and remain idle • Council in discussions with London Playing Fields Association (LPFA) to take over the building and grounds to run as a community facility

  14. New High School • Will be an 11-18 year old school (so will include a sixth form) • Intake per year yet to be finalised but early indications are 180-240 per year (5 or 6 forms of entry) • If first intake enters in 2015 – school will not be at full capacity until 2019 (2021 if you include sixth form element). • First children to enter around ages 4/5 now.

  15. Continued… • Main ‘feeder’ primary schools likely to be Coston PS, Horsenden PS, Oldfield PS and Selborne PS. • To a lesser extent Edward Betham CE Primary. • By 2015 these schools will have 360 pupils leaving year 6 each year for high school • Therefore vast majority of pupils for new high school expected from local area

  16. Continued… • School development to have a community element to it • Green space likely to be kept separate from school. Run separately to ensure community usage outside school times • Keen to promote not only youth and sporting facilities on site but also adult education and other community use

  17. How is it being funded? • Council to make capital outlay to purchase site from Glaxo • Funding coming predominantly from Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) programme together with council funding • Council’s BSF outline business case already approved by government

  18. Resident feedback to date • Feedback to date has been broadly supportive BUT • Two main issues raised by residents that have to be resolved in design and planning stage

  19. Issues • Transport issues • Oldfield Lane North already a congested road at certain times of the day. Problems already with drops offs/pick ups from Oldfield PS. This could be made worse by High School • Is the transport infrastructure in place to cope with a high school in the area?

  20. Continued… • Response: • Need for significant look at transport issues agreed by Council • High schools usually yield less car drop offs/pick ups than primary schools. • Development of safer walking routes to school • Re-modelling of site required – delivery access points to be incorporated from A40 slip road? Pick up/drop off area developed off Oldfield Lane North? • Review of 92 bus service required?

  21. Issues (cont’d) • Safety issues • High School will bring many young people into the area. Would this bring more crime and anti-social behaviour to the area? • Would restrictions be placed to ensure pupils may not leave the site during the day – notably at lunchtime?

  22. Continued… • Response: • This will be considered carefully during design and planning stage • School will come under the ‘Police in Schools’ scheme. Dedicated police officer will be appointed to the school • Look to Safer Neighbourhood Team to police area at key times • Intention is to have secure site during day. No pupils may leave the site before end of school day.

  23. Conclusion • New High School still some way off but progress being made • Many hurdles still need to be jumped • Once acquisition of land complete, design and planning stage will begin. Important stage – do residents wish to be a part of this? • Feedback so far on the whole positive, but issues raised that need to be addressed.

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