Warwickshire News Mine

Warwickshire County Council and North Warwickshire & Hinckley College are currently holding a six week consultation to give everyone the opportunity to comment on the proposal and shape the plans for the proposed Academy to replace Manor Park School and Alderman Smith School in 2010.

On issues raised at the public meetings held at both schools, the county council is keen to reassure people that action would be taken on minimising disruption during the construction phase of the proposed Academy.

The local authority has been involved in a number of projects where building work has taken place on school sites and the best interest of students is always a priority. Health and safety for everyone on and close to the site, during the construction of the proposed Academy would be paramount, with risk assessments in place and regularly reviewed throughout the process. If the proposal goes ahead, the current Alderman Smith site will remain open throughout the build. It is proposed that the Academy will be built away from the existing school.

More pressing matters on school transitional arrangements have also been raised. As a result, officers are urgently reviewing the transitional situation and writing to prospective parents.

For members of the community concerned about the disruption caused by building work on the site, if the proposals get the green light the county council has pledged to use a ‘considerate contractor’ – the highest accolade awarded by the building industry for firms being good neighbours – as the authority did when building its most recent new school in Leamington Spa.

And to those who are worried about increased traffic in the roads around Alderman Smith, the county council has stated that the proposed Academy would be no bigger than the current school and there would be no extra traffic in the long term. There is also a commitment to pay for new uniforms for pupils who attend the Academy.

Mark Gore, Warwickshire County Council’s Head of Transforming Education, said: “It is important that we respond to the issues raised during the consultation, whenever we can. The county council has a good record of listening to the views of local people.

“We have lots of experience of building new schools and if we get the go-ahead to build this academy all these factors will be considered. And if the Cabinet agrees to the proposal, that will be just the start of the dialogue with the public on practical issues.

“Again, I must add that this is by no means a ‘done deal’ and we are continuing to listen to everyone’s views and hope that we can continue to work together with parents and the community to provide a better education for their children.”

Marion Plant, Principal and Chief Executive of North Warwickshire & Hinckley College added: “A lot of important issues have been raised so far during the consultation process, and these are already shaping the proposals that are on the table.

"Should the Academy plans become a reality, we will be setting up a number of focus groups for those who want to contribute to creating the county’s flagship Academy, including parents, pupils, staff and members of the wider community.

"This will ensure continued and effective engagement throughout the process of creating the Academy, which will be something really special for young people in Nuneaton.”

Further information, including a list of comments and questions raised at the public meetings and a list of frequently asked questions, can be accessed at http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/academyeoi

The Academy investment is a central element of the county council’s drive to raise educational standards, improve school buildings and deal with surplus places in Nuneaton.

Academies are publicly funded, all ability, independent schools established by sponsors working in partnership with the Government and local authorities.

The Nuneaton proposal is for an Academy, with North Warwickshire and Hinckley College as the sponsor, to be developed on the existing Alderman Smith site to replace Alderman Smith and Manor Park schools. The flagship Academy is scheduled to open next September and building work is scheduled to be completed by September 2013.

If given the go ahead, the Nuneaton Academy will provide 1,050 places for 11 to 16 year-olds and post-16 provision of 150 places. It has also been earmarked to specialise in engineering and science, although the college remains committed to continuing the good work of the two existing schools in their chosen specialisms of sport and performing arts.

The consultation ends on November 6. A report is scheduled to go to Cabinet on November 26.

Link to WCC