New Walsall free school planned - with former golf course earmarked as potential site

The Department for Education has given the green light to the development of a proposed new school with funding set to be directly provided by the government.

Walsall Council bosses said they are currently assessing options for the best location for the school, with the old Reedswood golf course at Reedswood Park being one of the potential sites.

The nine-hole course was created following the demolition of the former Birchills Power Station in 1987 but closed in 2007.

Once built, the school will provide an additional 1,100 new places for children in the borough.

A spokesperson for the authority said exploratory work on the former Reedswood golf course site, to test the ground and its suitability for a new school, is due to begin this week.

Councillor Adrian Andrew, deputy leader and portfolio holder for regeneration at Walsall Council, said: “This is really good news for the borough.

“The council has been working with local partners and with the Department for Education for some time to make this happen.

“The new secondary school in Walsall is part of our £1.5 billion plans to transform the borough, creating opportunities for local families and for young people.”

Councillor Mark Statham, portfolio holder for education and skills, added: “Our ambition is that every child in Walsall will have the best possible start and will have a positive learning experience in our schools.

“Once built and opened this new school will provide more places and more choice for pupils and for their parents and carers.”