Susan Kramer MP responds to North Kingston Secondary Schools consultation

1.19.37pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 14th Sep 2009

Susan Kramer MP has published her response to the consultation on the future of secondary school provision in North Kingston:

This is a contribution to the consultation on a site for the new North Kingston secondary school. I am writing this freehand rather than filling out the form because I am responding as the local MP not as a resident.

First let me say that I fully support a new secondary school. I am anxious that the search for a site continue in case a better option is available but I accept that the North Kingston Centre site may be the least worst option.

I would like the forecasts of pupils to be reviewed to see if a more reasonable 5 or 6 form entry school would suffice rather than 8 forms of entry. I note that Grey Court School is increasingly popular and could be expanded to ensure that parents continue to have that choice.

Under any circumstances, the new school building should be designed to avoid an overwhelming frontage. Residents also need more detail on the relocation of existing activities on the site especially adult classes and the archive.

As for the proposal for a 6th form on the Hawker Center site, I am concerned that residents need much stronger assurances that community leisure facilities will remain, available all day and with a separate entrance. It would help to provide residents with examples of schools elsewhere in the country where this has been done.

As you know, 6th form provision is changing as we speak and a more in depth discussion of how this would impact usage of 6th form facilities would be helpful.

Finally, I am concerned that local people are kept fully informed and that their views are used to shape decisions.