Will be based at site of former young offenders' institute
Detailed plans have been announced for a new £20 million-plus community academy. A Government-funded feasibility study has recently concluded that a new academy is viable on the site of the former Stamford House young offenders institute, north of Goldhawk Road near Cathnor Park.
The academy is designed to accommodate up to 780 mixed ability students aged 11-18 from the local area.
Now, residents are being invited to have their say on the proposal at a preliminary consultation which will run up to Christmas.
Further consultation will take place in the summer once a planning application has been submitted next summer. If approved, the academy would have specialist status for creative and digital media and information technology. The former youth detention centre would be demolished to make way for the school, planned to open in September 2010.
The academy would be sponsored by the Mercers’ Company – which has more than 500 years worth of history in education – and the Information Technologists’ Company. It would also work in partnership with the two nationally-renowned St Paul’s Schools.
Councillor Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “If approved, the academy would provide a truly exciting and inspirational educational offer for parents and pupils alike.
“This would be an academy for the local community, an academy open to every local child. Of course we wait be guided by the response to the local consultation, but we are confident that local parents will find this an exciting opportunity. As a local authority, we are proud to be associated with it. Our partners are also working in partnership with other secondary schools in the borough.”
Martin Ripley, a representative of the Information Technologists, said: “The aim of the academy would be to bring 21st century learning and innovation. For example, students would be encouraged to create their own podcasts while learning. This would form the basis of a huge library of podcasts.
“While this is a school for all – not for the technological elite – we do not believe that there will be many schools in the world more technologically advanced.”
The Mercers Company is already associated with 16 schools, including the Thomas Telford Technology College in the West Midlands. A drop-in session where people can find out more details on the proposal will be held on Thursday, December 6, from 4.30pm-8pm at Greenside Primary School, Westville Road W12 9PT.
To comment on the proposal, email: Barbara.Beese@lbhf.gov.uk or write to: Barbara Beese, Children’s Services Department, Hammersmith Town Hall, W6 9JU.
November 9, 2007