Four new free schools for Coseley, Darlaston, Willenhall and Blakenall
Four new 'free schools' will be built in the Black Country after being given the green light by the Government.
Three primary schools in Coseley, Darlaston, and Willenhall will be run by the Collegiate Academy Trust while the Blakenall School in Walsall will be for secondary age pupils and be overseen by the Windsor Academy Trust.
The Department for Education approved applications for the four sites today and they could be open to pupils by September 2018.
Locations for the school sites are still being considered.
Education Secretary Justine Greening said: “We need schools that can bring out the best in every single child no matter where they're growing up, how much their parents earn, or however different their talents are.
“That's why these new schools are so important – they give us the school places we need for the future, and they also give parents more choices to find a great school place in their area that's right for their child.”
Free schools can be set up by parents, teachers, charities, businesses, community groups, academy trusts and sponsors where either there is a shortage of places or where the parents are not happy with the places on offer.
The three primary schools will be known as Coseley Technology Primary, Darlaston Technology Primary and Willenhall Technology Primary. They will each have up to 420 pupils with an additional 52 pre-school places when full. They will be overseen by Sir Mark Grundy the executive principal of Shireland Collegiate Academy in Smethwick which is also run by the Collegiate Academy Trust.
Sir Mark said: "Our aim is to develop the next generation of smart creative learners ready to enter a technology-rich world with the skills they need to be successful.
"We have three core beliefs. We believe that every pupil will have access to a whole education underpinned by academic rigour.
"We believe that every pupil should be equipped for the future through teaching them relevant and cutting edge skills for the era in which they live.
"We believe that every pupil should be safe, happy, ambitious for themselves and respectful of all."
It is hoped the Blakenall School will open in September 2018 and eventually have 1,150 pupils from 11-18 years old.
Windsor Academy Trust already runs two primary academies in the Blakenall area, Rivers Primary Academy and Goldsmith Primary Academy.
No-one from the trust was available last night but its website says: "We believe – and local parents tell us – that there is a clear need for more high quality secondary provision in an area where parental choice is severely limited in terms of access to good or outstanding secondary schools/academies.
"We are keen to address parental demand by building on the successful and improving key stage two outcomes in Windsor Academy Trust's two existing Blakenall primary academies.
"There is a very real need to further raise educational outcomes in the Blakenall district as well as addressing barriers to learning.
"We want to work with Walsall Council in its desire to address low levels of access to higher education and lack of employment outcomes in the Blakenall area."
