Potential free school inviting pupils despite lack of premises (From Watford Observer)
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Reach Free School inviting applications for September 2013
3:00pm Tuesday 4th December 2012 in News
By Ben Endley, Senior reporter
A proposed new secondary school in WD3 is inviting prospective pupils to apply for places despite still not having a site.
The Reach Free School opened its application process on Monday, December 3, for children due to start Year 7 in September 2013.
In October, a two-day public consultation held at Watersmeet, Rickmansworth, attracted hundreds of parents, many of whom voiced their support for the proposals.
Richard Booth, the principal designate, said: "We had lots of people come through the door and listen to what we had to say.
"We were very impressed with the questions we were asked so we could respond to them and make sure the people of this community have the opportunity to have their say on what the Reach Free School will look like."
School bosses said there would be 120 places on offer in each year and the school would choose pupils on proximity rather than achievement.
A spokesman for the school said applications for the first year will be made in addition to those made through Hertfordshire County Council so the Reach Free School can be an additional choice and will not jeopardise HCC applications in any way.
To apply for the school, visit http://www.reachfreeschool.co.uk/apply/.
Comments(2)
Engineer1
says...
4:11pm Tue 4 Dec 12
TRT wrote:TRT, yes, you are right, but I hope they at least have two or three site options identified by now.
They don't need to get it built... provided the find existing suitable accommodation. A school is not a building in the same way that a church is not.
It will need to go through the planning process if its a change of use of a building, and they'll need to address transport issues, (dropping off and pick up etc) and consult with neighbouring households and business premises. Thats probably a 3 month process.
They'll need to have this done by the Spring so they can kit out the building in the Summer... so I would have thought they'd have to identify the building by February at the very latest. They also need to recruit staff, and again, this can only be done once the site is approved, so the sooner they can annouce a site the better.
Several free school projects have got into trouble over lead in times, with one losing its DfE funding less than a month before opening because the school just wasn't ready.
TRT says...
3:32pm Tue 4 Dec 12