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Peterborough day nursery bids to open free school
News from The Peterborough Evening Telegraph, www.peterboroughtoday.co.uk
THE organisation behind a franchise of day nursery schools in Peterborough has announced its bid to open a new primary school in the city.
The Children’s Educational Trust (CET) intends to open a free school in Aldermans Drive, on the same site as one of the three day nurseries it operates in the city, The Cedars Day Nursery.
Free schools are state-funded schools and, like academies, they are independent of local government control.
However, unlike academies, applicants can come from a variety of sources including charities, universities, businesses, educational groups, teachers or parents.
CET is intending to apply to the Department for Education to set up the free school, which will be called The Cedars School, ready for its first intake in September 2013.
Bel Oomerjee, a director from CET, spoke about her vision for the free school.
She said: “We want to ensure children have the best start in the education system after leaving our nurseries so they have the competence and the confidence and are well equipped for secondary education.”
She said the idea for a free school came from parents keen to have their children’s development continue beyond CET’s nurseries, the other two of which are based in Innovation Way, in Lynch Wood Business Park, and in Broadway.
The organisation’s research showed there would a growing demand for primary school places in the West Town area due to the birth rate, helping CET choose its prospective site.
Ms Oomerjee said another factor was “concern” among parents about pupils’ attainment at West Town Primary School, in Williamson Avenue.
The primary school was judged to be “satisfactory” in its latest Ofsted inspection in February 2011.
Cllr John Holdich, Peterborough City Council’s cabinet member for education, skills and university, said he supported the bid in principle, in light of the squeeze on school places in the area.
He said: “Subject to seeing their proposal, the city council would welcome a free school in the area.”
He added it would be “unfair” for parents to cast West Town Primary School in a negative light.
He said: “The Ofsted report says there are some management issues in the school. The local authority is working with the school to sort it out.”
Jonathan Lewis, assistant director for education and resources within the city council’s children’s services, added: “We are always keen to look at different options and we are happy to provide additional help with the bid if it benefits the city.”
A representative from West Town Primary School was unavailable for comment.
FACTFILE: on free schools
THE first free schools opened in September 2011, 15 months after the secretary of state Michael Gove invited proposals from interested groups.
Peterborough has yet to establish a free school but work is underway to create a new free secondary school at the former Hereward College site in Reeves Way, Eastfield, Peterborough.
Peterborough Community Education Trust (PCET) is also proposing to replace its girl-only, fee-paying Iqra Academy, in Enterprise Way, Bretton, with a free school to include segregated classes for boys and girls.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Gorgeous George
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 09:54 PMCedars Day Nursery are desperate to survive as a business, which went down when they closed the old PDH. I don't think they should start rubbishing West Town School, which has served the community very well for many years long before Ofsted stuck their oar in.
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