TOP SCHOOL GETS BEHIND NEW CROXLEY GREEN SECONDARY

St Clement Danes School is to lead a bid to build and educationally sponsor an exciting new secondary school in Croxley Green to cater for the expected shortfall in school places.

The goal is to open a new school in September 2016 with an initial intake of 180 pupils (six forms of entry) but this will only happen if parents actively support the plans.

Due to the growing local population, Hertfordshire County Council knows there will be a shortage of secondary school places for children currently in Years 3, 4 and below if a new school is not established.  The current expansion of primary schools is evidence of the growing need for secondary school places in the years ahead.

Hertfordshire County Council approached St Clement Danes School to lead the bid to establish this new secondary school, help with its opening and continue to support its development.

Dr Valentine, Headteacher of St Clement Danes School, said: “There is an urgent need for more school places and the only way to solve this is to build another school.  We understand that parents will be looking for the best teachers, the best facilities and the best opportunities for their children.   We will use our expertise to deliver a high-performing secondary school at the heart of the community.”

The Governing Body of St Clement Danes School welcomes this opportunity and sees it as a natural progression in the support offered by St Clement Danes School and part of its commitment to a collaborative approach to education.

St Clement Danes School is well placed to deliver the new school.  St Clement Danes School was judged Outstanding by Ofsted for every aspect of school provision and performance.  It has a strong track record in supporting other schools as a National Support School.  St Clement Danes leads the Herts & Bucks Teaching School Alliance which is training secondary school teachers to the highest standards.  Dr Valentine is herself a National Leader of Education. 

Hertfordshire County Council has identified a suitable site at the end of Baldwins Lane in Croxley Green as a potential location for The Croxley Green Secondary School.

The plans for the new school have been warmly received by local primary  and secondary headteachers.  Dr Valentine and her team will meet with junior school parents and other interested parties during March and April to explain the plans. Parents are urged to register an interest in the new school by April 30^th 2014 so that evidence of parental support can be presented to the Department for Education, helping to demonstrate local support for the new secondary school. 

Dr Valentine stressed: “We are asking parents of current Year 3 and 4 pupils to complete a simple form registering their interest in The Croxley Green Secondary School.  This is not a binding commitment and they will, of course, be free to apply for any school when it is their time for secondary transfer in 2016 or 2017.”

Parents can register their support for The Croxley Green Secondary School by completing the online form at www.croxleygreenschool.org.uk                

For more information call 01923 284482 or email enquiries@croxleygreenschool.org.uk

Interested parties can also follow progress on the campaign at                         www.facebook.com/croxleygreenschool              www.twitter.com/croxleygreensch