New Primary School For Acton


Expected to open in September 2012

A new primary school in West Acton is a step closer after approval from Ealing Council’s Cabinet.

Planning permission has already been granted for the new two-form entry school in Acton Vale next to The Holy Family Catholic church (one form of entry is equivalent to 30 pupils in each year). The Cabinet’s decision means that the Diocese of Westminster can now proceed with opening the new school in September 2012, creating an additional 420 places when full.

Ealing is experiencing unprecedented demand for primary school places. An extra temporary 270 reception places were created for the start of the 2011/12 academic year, but more are still needed, especially in Acton where demand is particularly high.

Another two-form entry primary school is planned in Acton for the site of the Priory Community Centre. Subject to consultation and planning permission, it could open by September 2013, creating another 420 places.

Cabinet also approved proposals to permanently expand Grange Primary School, Ealing, by one form of entry and to expand Beaconsfield Primary School, Southall, to provide places for 16 students with special educational needs (SEN).

The expansion at Grange Primary School is subject to planning permission.

The new places at Beaconsfield Primary School will cater for children who do not meet the threshold for a place at a special school, but are unable to manage in a mainstream primary school class full-time.

Southall has a shortage of these types of places meaning that children often have to travel across the borough to go to school. The new spaces are good news, because it will mean that children will be able to go to school closer to home and more specialist staff and resources will be brought into the borough.

Councillor Patricia Walker, cabinet member for Children and Young People, said: “This decision shows that we are continuing to plan for the increasing demand, and the changing nature of that demand, for school places in the borough.

“We have a duty to provide a good education to our children and are working hard to ensure that we do that.”

The decision was made by the council’s Cabinet on Tuesday, 13 September 2011. All Cabinet decisions are subject to call-in for a period of five working days from the date of publication of the minutes of the meeting.

Acton...

September 16, 2011