Council and democracy

Council unveils blueprint for £350m transformation of borough's schools

Croydon schools will see around £350 million of investment into secondary school facilities over the next three years, through the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative.

Councillor Maria Gatland, cabinet member for children's services and adult learning, said: "Our blueprint for the future of education in Croydon has been developed using feedback from the school community. We have listened to parents, teachers, governors and pupils, and their views have helped our original plans to evolve and improve. When the process of transformation is complete, Croydon's schools will be as good as the best in the country - and will allow us to provide all learners with a world-class education service."

"We have the highest aspirations for our children and young people. The borough's best schools will be expanded, improving schools will be further supported to help them accelerate progress, and underperforming schools will be transformed. Most schools will be upgraded to provide sixth-forms that will offer a full range of academic and vocational qualifications.

"More school places will be made available throughout Croydon and alongside a step change in performance we aim to establish a position where no child will need to travel outside the borough to go to school. Improvements to facilities for pupils with learning difficulties and special educational needs will ensure that all learners, regardless of background or ability, get the best start in life. At least three new academies will be established - they will transform standards in schools with a record of low educational achievement."

Every school in the borough will see change as part of Croydon's programme of investment. Eleven schools will add sixth-forms. Four mainstream schools - including Archbishop Tenison's and Norbury Manor Business School - will be rebuilt and refurbished, and Beckmead School will be rebuilt to offer state-of-the art facilities for pupils with special educational needs. 

Central to this programme of investment will be the establishment of three new academies at Haling Manor, Selsdon High and Ashburton Community School. The council is taking this bold step to ensure that the standard of education at these schools is transformed. Consultation is set to take place next year on whether Archbishop Lanfranc would also benefit from academy status.

Meanwhile, Addington High School will remain open and along with Westwood Language School will be refurbished and become London Challenge Trust Schools.

The final proposals have been drawn up following the end of an initial phase of public consultation, which concluded at the end of September. The consultation has been one of the most extensive carried out by the council and included:

• eight public meetings, with 1,093 attendees in total
• 1,298 residents responding via post, email or text
• collaboration with neighbouring local authorities, including Lambeth, Sutton, Surrey and Bromley
• individual school governors meetings, a parents forum and meetings with groups of governors and chairs.

A further period of public consultation on the final plans is due to begin on 13 November, subject to the cabinet's approval of the proposals. This will run for six weeks. Further details on how school communities can be a part of this consultation will be published following the cabinet meeting on 13 November.