A FREE SECONDARY SCHOOL

For Arborfield, Finchampstead and Barkham

WHY

WBC Secondary school strategy has identified a need for a new school for the area after 2018

IT STATES

.Trend based roll projections indicate that there will be a shortfall of Year 7 spaces by 2017/18 (and with a high probability this will occur by 2015/16) and of whole school capacity by 2020/21, based on current school capacity figures

AND.

Responding to a FOI request, WBC said..

We do not have information on the number of children attending particular primary schools who would be affected by a projected shortfall in secondary school places. Forecast demand for school places is published in the Secondary School Strategy adopted by the Council earlier this year, which is publicly available or can be downloaded from our website at http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/schools/organisation/ This sets out the need for additional places and recommendations about how these could be provided. This forecasts that there may be a shortfall in secondary school places in 2016/17 currently across all the secondary schools in the

We are forecasting that demand will exceed this by 2016/17.

borough, for 2014, there are 1,872 year 7 places.

There is already an urgent need for a secondary school in this area. Some parents living in Arborfield, Finchampstead and Barkham are not able to get their school of choice because of the post-code tie-breaker criteria. The situation will get worse, with parents not able to get their first, second or even third choice of school.

BECAUSE THERE WILL BE.

Substantial housing developments at:

~ ~ ~ ~

Buckland's Farm Matthews Green Shinfield SDL, and the 3,500 home mini-town in Arborfield.

WHY ITS OUR PROBLEM

Developers will only contribute a site for a school as part of their S106 contribution, however, the location planned for the school is totally unacceptable because..

WOULD YOU WANT YOUR CHILD EDUCATED HERE.

IT IS NOT SUITABLE BECAUSE

It will be located in the service yard area of the Garrison. Many of the buildings that will be demolished date back to the 50s and likely to contain contaminates, such as asbestos. The phasing of the development will mean the school is in the middle of a demolition and building site for at least 15 years. It will be housed in temporary units - only after the SDL is complete, will a new school be built. Biggs Lane will be the only road for construction traffic to use for the whole development. It is NOT a safe and stimulating environment for OUR children to be educated in!

There is an alternative lets make use of an existing Army building such as West Court or the Sandhurst Block.

In August 2013 - the DfE approached the MOD on our behalf to register an interest in the location

WHY IT MAKES SENSE

An existing army building will:
Be accessible to the three communities of SOW. Have established facilities, which can easily be converted into a school. Allow us to create a larger school to serve the new communities planned as well as providing dual-use facilities. Be in a safe and stimulating environment for children to learn in. It makes environmental sense to re-use rather than build something new and retains the links to the Army.

BUT

Its not for the Project Group to decide.

The DfE will find, negotiate and secure a site once they know our Free School bid is imminent.

REMEMBER.
The site for the school has to remain in the SDL plans. AGLC can't drop it as there is no guarantee a free school will be created and it will stay in the plan UNTIL we get approval. This will then mean WBC will drop the need for the school and the site will return to AGLC for more houses! Regardless of what the Developers promise - it will be too little too late, we need this school

NOW!

Whatever you think about the Governments Free School policy

A Parent led bid for a Secondary School is the quickest and best way to get a school for

OUR children

HOW
A group of parents have formed the SOW Free School Group and intend to work with an Education Partner, such as the CfBT. We are proposing to submit a Free School bid to the DfE in September 2014. We will work closely with key stakeholders, such as WBC and Parish Councils to achieve this ambitious goal.

HOWEVER

Although there is evidence to support the need for the school, we have to prove, beyond any doubt, that there is a DEMAND for this school. Would it be your first choice of school for your child? Our product offering has to be different from other secondary schools in the area.

BECAUSE
1) 2) The DfE will reject it at the first stage of the bid process, if they feel it is need driven. Other Secondary Schools could see it as a threat to their admission numbers and object to our plans during the statutory consultation processes.

OUR SCHOOL VISION

Inspires

children to value and understand the importance of education.

Motivates

pupils to be the best they can in whatever they choose to do.

AND

A.C.H.I.E.V.E.S

SOW SCHOOL
A C H I E V E
All round academic excellence

Creative and innovative approach to learning.

Happy and stimulating environment for children to learn in. Innovative and inspirational teachers. Encourage empathy and compassion in everyone. Vision and leadership from the Head Teacher, SLT and Governors. Ensure each child's potential and unique talents are developed in full. Successful students who go on to achieve their full potential in life and make a positive contribution to society.

OUR SCHOOL
Will be a mixed, non faith, school for 11 to 18 year olds. Admission will be based on catchment criteria. It will teach subjects within the national curriculum, focusing on English, Maths, Science, Technology and a modern language. Open Minds curriculum for Year 7/8 Will only employ qualified teachers. Will offer learning paths from Y9 with possible Academic, Creative and Vocational course options. Expect all pupils to achieve at least a GCSE Grade C in all subjects taken. Smaller class sizes Enrichment activities, such as Duke of Edinburgh, Army Cadet Corps and Community/Voluntary service.

Further USPs of the school will develop as the project progresses

SOW FREE SCHOOL GROUP BELIEVES.

Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than educating the next generation.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Stakeholders

100% support for the Project.

Contribute towards a central budget for marketing or provide resource support. Promote the need for a bricks and mortar school NOT a site for a modular build.

 Parents Join the Project Group, or Skills Bank, or Be a Free School Ambassador at your childs Primary school. Whether you are a retired professional, have a specific area of knowledge that can help with the project, a stay-athome mum keen to get some experience prior to returning to work or a student needing experience to add to a CV or portfolio.

WE NEED YOU

Hilary Clinton once said. It takes a village to raise a child

BUT

Its going to take a community to work together to get Arborfield, Finchampstead and Barkham a new, high quality Secondary School for OUR children to be educated in.