The Greenshaw Learning Trust has been given approval by the Department for Education (DfE) to open a new secondary school in Sutton.

The Trust had applied in October for ‘free school’ funding to establish the new school that is needed in Sutton in 2017 to meet the forecast demand for school places, and was today named as one of the 50 successful applicants announced by the DfE.

The costs of building the new school will be paid directly by the Government from the Free School budget; when open the school’s running costs will be funded in the same way as other academy schools. The school will be a community school open to all local children, offering a broad curriculum and including a sixth form. It will ultimately take 1450 students and operate as part of the Greenshaw family of schools.

The site for the new school is still to be determined – the Council is currently carrying out feasibility studies into two possible sites, one at Sutton Hospital in Cotswold Road and the other on the disused all-weather pitch at Rosehill Park.

There is an urgent need to provide more secondary school places in Sutton. The increase in the local population of young people has already impacted on primary schools and these students will soon be transferring to secondary school. Many local secondary schools are expanding, but in addition Sutton Council has identified the need for a new secondary school to open in 2017, and probably a second new school a few years later.  The Greenshaw Learning Trust took the initiative to submit an application to the DfE for money from the 'free school' budget as the best way to secure the finance to build the new school.

Will Smith, Executive Headteacher of the Greenshaw Learning Trust said:
“We are very pleased to have been given approval to open the new school that Sutton needs. As well as addressing the urgent need for additional secondary school places in Sutton, the DfE has recognised Greenshaw’s track record, the strength of our proposal and the support we have received from the local community.

We would like to thank colleagues from across the schools in Sutton and the great many parents who have supported our bid and we look forward to continuing to work with our stakeholders as we develop our plans and establish the new school.”

Contact
Will Smith, Executive Headteacher, Greenshaw Learning Trust
Tel : 020 8715 1017
Email : lwelch@greenshaw.co.uk (Linda Welch, PA)