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News
Two new schools for Southwark regeneration areas
28 September 2006
Southwark Council's executive approved a strategy this week to build two new secondary schools that will cater for future demand in Southwark's regeneration areas.
The agreed proposals, which are the result of a highly coordinated approach across the council's regeneration and education teams, include a new school in Rotherhithe for the Canada Water regeneration area, and a further school on the Aylesbury Estate to serve the Elephant & Castle and Aylesbury regeneration projects.
Both schools are expected to have open admissions arrangements and will cater for 750 pupils, with an additional 300 place sixth form for the Aylesbury area. It is expected the schools will also have close links with other high-performing schools in the area, particularly with regard to the 14-19 curriculum.
The schools should be opening alongside additional new homes in the area, with a provisional target date of 2012.
Cllr Caroline Pidgeon, executive member for children's services and education at Southwark Council, said: "We've been planning ahead to ensure that future demand for school places can be met as part of our Southwark Schools for the Future programme, and we're delighted that we can give the go ahead for consultation on these two new schools.
"The schools are likely to have a considerable positive impact on both the existing community and future communities in these regeneration areas and we're expecting that the provision of high quality new schools will attract and keep families in Southwark."
The council will now be arranging a period of statutory consultation to get public views before the project is taken forward and will also be researching the most cost effective options for building the two schools.
Notes to Editors
The Southwark Schools for the Future project is divided into four programmes:
Building Schools for the Future: Funding under wave 3 of the government's BSF programme will lead to improvements for: Archbishop Michael Ramsay, Notre Dame, Sacred Heart, St Michael's RC, St Saviour's and Olave's , St Thomas the Apostle, Walworth, Tuke, Highshore, Bredinghurst, Spa, pupil referral units and at least one new secondary school.
Kingsdale, Waverley School and Charter received 'Quick Win' funding during the first wave of the BSF programme, which has already resulted in building improvements.
DfES Academies programme: Geoffrey Chaucer and Joseph Lancaster, and Bacons CTC are all at varying stages of becoming academies. Archbishop Michael Ramsay and Walworth School will also be going down the academy route. These schools join The Academy @ Peckham, City of London Academy, Harris Girls' Academy and Harris Bermondsey Academy which are already up and running. A new build academy for boys is also proposed for East Dulwich.
Primary programme: this includes a first phase of investment in Michael Faraday, Eveline Lowe and Southwark Park primary schools, with a second wave of investment under consideration.
Children's centre programme: a first phase of investment in children's centres for children up to the age of five and their families is near completion. A second phase of investment is currently being planned to make places available across the whole borough.
