Academy planned
PLANS for a new academy school got the green light by councillors, despite the government freezing all decisions on funding.
The Department for Education (DfE) has not said when it will make a decision onfunding but will do so on a case-by-case basis.
Kensington and Chelsea Council's plans to build a new academy and leisure centre on the site of Kensington Leisure Centre, in Holland Park, will provide an extra 1,000 secondary school places by 2013 should funding be granted.
Cllr Sir Merrick Cockell, Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and
Chelsea, said: "The country's parlous
economic condition means that Government funding for our new school is no longer as certain as it was, but we are determined to be ambitious for our borough. That is why we have decided to invest in taking this project to the next stage."
A feasibility study and consultation will now begin asking residents and users for their ideas and views on the plans.
Planners will also work with local people to thrash out issues such as design and impact on residential facilities.
The academy's sponsor will be The Aldridge Foundation, which already runs two other academies, but funding is far from assured.
A Foundation spokeswoman said: "The Aldridge Foundation and the Royal Borough submitted the 'questionnaire for sponsors with capital projects in discussion'.
The Government has yet to make an announcement on which proposals will receive the funding."
Eight existing schools in the borough also expressed interest in becoming academies.
The news comes as the Academies Bill passed its final reading in Parliament
allowing schools to opt out of local authority control without consulting parents.
A spokesman for RBKC declined to comment on the schools' plans to become academies but pointed out they 'are just registering an interest to become an academy.'
The eight schools are: Holland Park School, in Campden Hill Road, Kensington, The Cardinal Vaughn Memorial RC School, in Addison Road, Kensington, Fox Primary School, in Kensington Place, Kensington, Servite RC Primary School, in Fulham Road, Chelsea, St Mary's Abbots C of EPrimary School, in Kensington Church Court,Kensington, St Barnabas and St Philip's C of E Primary School, in Earl's Court Road,Kensington, and Chelsea Community Hospital School, in Fulham Road, Chelsea.
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Hammersmith&Kensington
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