Hackney free school proposal gets thumbs down

Local residents have rejected a proposal for a free school in Hackney.In a recently-completed consultation on whether a new school in the borough should be an academy or a free school, 70 per cent of the 200 respondents favoured an academy, whilst only 10 per cent supported the establishment of a free school.

The Conservative – Liberal Democrat Coalition Government has indicated that academies and free schools are the only types of new secondary that would be funded.

Mossbourne Academy and City Academy have both expressed an interest in running the new academy. A decision on which academy will run the school will be made by the Learning Trust, in collaboration with the Department for Education. Some respondents to the consultation indicated a preference as to which academy should run the provision and this will be taken into account. Under the proposal, the new school would be situated on Victoria Park Road, on the site that will be vacated by Cardinal Pole Catholic School when it moves to a new building.

The old school building has a Grade II listing so any building work will need to adhere to this and the Conservation Area setting.

Related: Analysis: ‘Free schools’ revolution will affect all Hackney students