A series of meetings will be held at the start of the Autumn term
Parents of children attending the borough's Catholic primary schools have received details of a proposal to build a new Catholic secondary in Battersea.
The new 1200-place school would be established in new buildings on the site of the current Salesian School and is projected to open in September 2012.
The plan is set out in a new consultation document, which invites comments by September 28. A series of meetings including meetings for parents to discuss the proposals will be held at the start of the Autumn term.
The new school would be coeducational and, for the first time, provide an opportunity for students seeking a Catholic education to use dedicated sixth form facilities.
The two existing secondaries - John Paul II and Salesian - currently admit around 70 per cent of their students from outside the borough. Their 1960s buildings are unsuited to the type of modern, high-tech learning environment that schools of the future will need. Both would go to make way for the new school, which would meet the demand for a new high performing Catholic secondary in Wandsworth.
The construction of brand new accommodation would ensure a flexible teaching and learning environment together with the latest information communication technology.
Students would be able to specialise in business studies and modern languages.
The new school would be built with funding from the Building Schools for the Future programme (BSF). The BSF programme in Wandsworth will, from 2010, provide funding to rebuild or remodel all the borough's secondary schools and equip them with the facilities needed to support their educational objectives.
The Salesian site in Surrey Lane, Battersea has good transport links and sufficient space to accommodate the new buildings. The John Paul II site in Princes Way, SW19, which is owned by the Southwark Diocese, would be sold.
The proposal is supported by The Diocese of Southwark, the Salesians of Don Bosco and the council. The email address for comments is office@rcsouthwark.org.uk or write to New Catholic School in Wandsworth, Archdiocese of Southwark, St Edward's House, St Paul's Wood Hill, Orpington Kent BR5 2SR. You can view the consultation document at www.wandsworth.gov.uk/bsf
July 11, 2007
|