NEW HIGH SCHOOL UPDATE REPORT GREENFORD GREEN WARD FORUM 11 TH MAY 2008

Background Increasing birth rates – by 2015 shortage of 2,300 high school places in borough Proposal is to meet this demand through expansion of some existing high schools plus a brand new high school Long standing issue of no high school in Greenford – north of the A40 Present administration manifesto commitment

Increasing pressures Shortage pressure will accumulate gradually Already some evidence of ‘distance’ criteria getting shorter

Current situation Up to year 6 children in local area tend to go to local primary schools – e.g Oldfield PS, Coston PS Year 7 onwards – Acton HS, Brentside HS, Northolt HS and West London Academy But this increasing – example of Horsenden Primary School

Initial trawl for sites Consultants asked to evaluate all potential sites in north of the borough Numerous sites evaluated – many rejected on grounds of size, transport links or potential planning issues (green belt land) Report to Cabinet – two options indicated –Ealing Central Sports Ground, Perivale –Glaxo site (but initially focussed on main Glaxo site on Greenford Road)

Continued …. Report recommended adopting Ealing Central Sports Ground as preferred site Ownership and cost key factor

Problems and Events Concern over choice of Ealing Central Sports Ground –Owned by the Council but an established open space –Would the location actually address the key problem of shortage in the Greenford – north of the A40 area? –Council did undertake to pursue Glaxo option further

Glaxo – GSK Social Club site Initial focus on Glaxo site had been whether part of main site on Greenford Road might be available – linking in with Berkeley Road playing fields. Glaxo indicated that it was seeking to close/dispose of social club site on Oldfield Lane North Land is Metropolitan Open Land – but developed part is around 2 acres.

Continued… High school buildings require a 2 acre footprint Glaxo prepared to enter discussions with council to sell Site becomes a viable option

Going Public During 2008 Glaxo announced publicly it plans to considerably downsize its operations in Greenford. Council announces it is in discussions with Glaxo concerning Oldfield Lane North site. Ward councillors hold event at Bridge Hotel

Where are we now? Council does not yet own the site Sale has been agreed by the Glaxo Board Respective lawyers at work. Heads of Terms agreement reached. If no glitches – ownership expected to pass to Council around September. Sale likely to include restriction of use on site for educational/community purposes

Potential timeline September 2009 – Council acquires ownership of site in Oldfield Lane North – Design of new high school and planning processes undertaken and completed 2012 – Construction of new high school begins 2015 – New high school opens It should be noted that this is a rough timeline at present.

Present buildings will not close and remain idle Council in discussions with London Playing Fields Association (LPFA) to take over the building and grounds to run as a community facility

New High School Will be an year old school (so will include a sixth form) Intake per year yet to be finalised but early indications are per year (5 or 6 forms of entry) If first intake enters in 2015 – school will not be at full capacity until 2019 (2021 if you include sixth form element). First children to enter around ages 4/5 now.

Continued… Main ‘feeder’ primary schools likely to be Coston PS, Horsenden PS, Oldfield PS and Selborne PS. To a lesser extent Edward Betham CE Primary. By 2015 these schools will have 360 pupils leaving year 6 each year for high school Therefore vast majority of pupils for new high school expected from local area

Continued… School development to have a community element to it Green space likely to be kept separate from school. Run separately to ensure community usage outside school times Keen to promote not only youth and sporting facilities on site but also adult education and other community use

How is it being funded? Council to make capital outlay to purchase site from Glaxo Funding coming predominantly from Government’s ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) programme together with council funding Council’s BSF outline business case already approved by government

Resident feedback to date Feedback to date has been broadly supportive BUT Two main issues raised by residents that have to be resolved in design and planning stage

Issues Transport issues –Oldfield Lane North already a congested road at certain times of the day. Problems already with drops offs/pick ups from Oldfield PS. This could be made worse by High School –Is the transport infrastructure in place to cope with a high school in the area?

Continued… Response: –Need for significant look at transport issues agreed by Council –High schools usually yield less car drop offs/pick ups than primary schools. –Development of safer walking routes to school –Re-modelling of site required – delivery access points to be incorporated from A40 slip road? Pick up/drop off area developed off Oldfield Lane North? –Review of 92 bus service required?

Issues (cont’d) Safety issues –High School will bring many young people into the area. Would this bring more crime and anti-social behaviour to the area? –Would restrictions be placed to ensure pupils may not leave the site during the day – notably at lunchtime?

Continued… Response: –This will be considered carefully during design and planning stage –School will come under the ‘Police in Schools’ scheme. Dedicated police officer will be appointed to the school –Look to Safer Neighbourhood Team to police area at key times –Intention is to have secure site during day. No pupils may leave the site before end of school day.

Conclusion New High School still some way off but progress being made Many hurdles still need to be jumped Once acquisition of land complete, design and planning stage will begin. Important stage – do residents wish to be a part of this? Feedback so far on the whole positive, but issues raised that need to be addressed.