Forum Topic

New schools for Hounslow

Anyone see the article in the Hounslow Chronicle? At last people are waking up to the need for more secondary schools by 2017/18. The Hounslow Improvement Partnership free school application being made by Hounslow headteachers now has over 400 expressions of interest. When I talk with prospective parents they are beginning to show their concerns.

Roger Shortt ● 3982d8 Comments

"Has anyone come up with anything like a prospective site?"Yes, there's an exhaustive document from last January detailing loads of sites around Hounslow that I was reading the other day.  The council's also done the maths and worked out that expanding existing secondaries gets them nearly there, after which they have to rely on new schools funded by the government.  Since the free school process is chaotic and uncertain and unless you're careful ends up educating kids in office blocks full of asbestos they've taken the pragmatic decision to get involved early on via a forum and offer backing to serious plans rather than vanity projects or loons, including help with sites.This is probably the best we can hope for until we somehow elect a decent government shuts the loonies up in a box and puts the power to build schools back where it belongs.  Anyway, the document is here:http://www.hounslow.gov.uk/hounslow_sequential_assessment_of_potential_school_sites_update_2014.pdfIf I was a betting man I'd say that the Commerce Road site (the only one genuinely big enough) is being fought over by Roger's council-backed proposal and Mary Macleod's Tory backed proposal.  I'm so glad Michael Gove took the politicians out of meddling in education.

Thomas Barry ● 3980d

I would hope Team Lampton would not be considering moving that close to Isleworth.  Many of us here would still vote Yes you know, given half the chance ;)

Phil Andrews ● 3981d

Rumours abound then - I heard that they were re-locating to Bridge Rd. in the depot. Shows how many staff have gone - when you consider at one time the Civic Centre was very overcrowded.

Vanessa Smith ● 3981d

There was a suggestion that the local authority would relocate to the site of Yates' Wine Lodge on the corner of Lampton Road (wish they'd done it when I was a councillor, would have been handy after some of those long, drawn-out Council meetings).I'm not sure whether this option is still being considered.

Phil Andrews ● 3981d

Isn’t the civic center in Lampton Road going free any time soon?

Paul Allen ● 3981d

All schools will need space for sports, unless they can find grounds to bus the kids there, really these things need to be all on the same site though.

Vanessa Smith ● 3981d

There was talk a year ago of Nishkam School looking to use the old Conquest Club sports ground between Wood Lane and Windmill Lane for an all-through school (5-18). They are currently running with Years 1 & 2 in a converted office building on London Road, but space will become an issue as more years are added.

Tim Henderson ● 3981d

I think the need to get a wriggle on now is getting urgent - and quite a few people could see this heading our way when the primary schools first came under pressure. As they say though - it's location, location, location. Has anyone come up with anything like a prospective site?

Vanessa Smith ● 3982d