New school being started

[Upwardtrajectory]

Hello,

There is a new school opening in our area in September.
My DC is currently Year 6 so if they go there they will be in the first intake for the new school. The plan is to start with year 7 only and fill the school year by year with each new year 7 intake, possibly opening opening a sixth form provision sooner though.

Does any one have any experience if this please?

As I work for a LA I have seen the issues.

As I work for a LA I have seen the issues

Issues with new schools in general, or just new schools not set up by the LA?

I ask because some people are politically opposed to new schools these days - they don't like the fact that LA's aren't allowed much involvement. Some LA's have actively opposed them or been obstructive/unhelpful. But other LA's have engaged in the process and worked with school trusts to help set them up. Hopefully the op's school is in that category.

Our LA does appear to be supportive.

Ours was too, op, so that's a good sign.

I am not politically opposed to how schools are set up. Secondary schools are all academies anyway, and have been for years, but I’m really not bothered about that and my comments are not remotely based on who organises the school!

Any school set up by any organisation will find they cannot provide everything children should have. Therefore I do stand by my comments regarding the difficulties because anyone can see they are common sense. Whether you are bothered by it is up to you.

Yes, they also attract parents who want a more sheltered secondary education and feel their DC won’t cope elsewhere. Again, that’s personal choice. Small village primary schools attract the same parents. However if they didn’t boost numbers some village schools would have barely 20 children from their catchment. But it can lead to an over representation of SEN children within some schools. So as long as you evaluate what you want and then make the choice knowing the pros and cons, then you will be happy. Pretending the cons don’t exist is not sensible. Discounting them might suit some but not all.

The LA will be paying the wages of the staff and probably advising if their services are purchased by the academy chain. They will also have done all the work to establish a new site and establish a new school is needed. Unless it’s a school promoted by parents who don’t want local schools and the places offered are surplus to local needs. Fewer of these are set up now. New schools often use the admission procedures of the LA which is sensible.