New free schools announced for Brent, Ealing and Harrow

The Government today announced 35 new free schools which are due to open in Sepotember 2015 although most of them do not yet have sites.

The blurb is from the DfE, not me.  I presume the Wembley Ark Primary is on the Copland site, now Ark Elvin, although it was not on the plans that went before the Council. Elsley Primary School is close by.

Gladstone and Gateway Secondary Free Schools failed to open last month as planned because they were unable to secure a building. Children had to go to other Brent secondary schools. Michaela has opened but building work is still in progress around the children.

Katharine Birbalsingh has started the process of bidding for a Michaela Primary Free School.

ARK Wembley Primary Academy, Brent, London

• primary (ages 4 to 11), 630 places (plus 60 in nursery)

ARK Wembley Primary Academy will be a mixed primary that will open in 2016 and build to full capacity of 630 pupils by 2022. The school will also have a 60 place nursery for 2- and 3-year-olds. ARK already runs 27 free schools and academies and will also open a free school in Ealing in 2017. ARK has a track record of running successful academies and free schools and the school will follow the successful ARK model by focusing on pupil success, with a commitment to developing aspirations and motivating pupils to achieve no matter what their background or prior attainment.

One Degree Academy, Brent, London

• all through (ages 4 to 18) 420 primary places, 300 secondary places, 120 post-16 places

The One Degree Academy, for 840 4- to 18-year-olds, has been put forward by the team behind the tried and tested One Degree Programme in Brent. The programme mentors local young people to develop their self-belief and transform their academic performance. The school will have very high expectations and aspirations for its students. The school’s curriculum will give students a global perspective and will make imaginative use of technology to enhance their learning.

ARK Ealing Academy, Ealing, London

• secondary school (ages 11 to 19), 900 secondary places, 300 post-16 places

ARK Ealing Academy will be a mixed school in Ealing, London. The school will open in 2017 and will eventually include a 300-place sixth form. ARK is a multi-academy sponsor with a track record of running successful academies and free schools. The school will follow the successful ARK model by having a strong focus on pupil success, a commitment to developing and building on aspirations, and motivating pupils to achieve regardless of their background or prior attainment.

North Twyford Church of England High School, Ealing, London

• secondary (ages 11 to 18), 1000 secondary places, 350 post-16 places

The trust that runs the popular and ‘outstanding’ Twyford C of E High School North is to open a new school in Ealing that will provide a rigorous academic education. All pupils will follow a core programme of English, maths, science, languages, history, geography and RE. Pupils will have longer afternoons for sport and creative programmes and will all have the opportunity to learn a musical instrument. The school will have the same principles of embedding a positive ethos within a distinctively Christian framework of values while applying a non-faith, open admissions policy.

In Harrow secondary academies are combining to set up a primary school:

Harrow View Primary School, Harrow, London

• primary (ages 3 to 11), 630 places (plus 26 nursery places), 12 special educational needs places

7 successful Harrow academies:

• Bentley Wood High School
• Canons High School
• Harrow High School
• Hatch End High School
• Nower Hill High School
• Park High School
• Rooks Heath College

are collaborating to extend their high standards by setting up a brand new primary school. Harrow View Primary School will serve a new community in the Harrow View area which is being constructed on the old Kodak site. The proposed school will also include a 26 place nursery and specialist provision to support 12 pupils with autistic spectrum disorders in a mainstream setting.

The same schools, with the addition of Whitmore are setting up a High School in Pinner

Pinner High School, Harrow, London

• secondary school (ages 11 to 18), 900 mainstream places, 240 post-16 places, 12 special educational needs places

8 successful Harrow schools:

• Bentley Wood High School
• Canons High School
• Harrow High School
• Hatch End High School
• Nower Hill High School
• Park High School
• Whitmore School
• Rooks Heath College

are collaborating to extend their high standards by setting up a brand new community secondary school. The new school will build on the high academic standards achieved at these popular schools and create 1,152 places. The proposed school will also offer specialist provision for twelve pupils with autistic spectrum disorders, sustaining their education in a mainstream setting with specialised support and facilities.

North West London United against return of fascist group to Cricklewood

Racists and Fascists are once again targeting Brent. The South East Alliance have said they are returning to Cricklewood Broadway on July 19th after the local community mobilised against them a few weeks ago.

The group are pretending that they are protesting about a Muslim Brotherthood office above a shop despite the fact that the police said the occupants have left, and in any case they were not the Muslim Brotherhood itself.

The real reason is that the racists can't stand the fact that not only is Brent multi-cultural but that the community gets on well together most of the time and people are positive about being part of a diverse neighbourhood. They are prepared to stand up and defend their neighbours and their neighbourhood.

The SE Alliance come from outside the area in order to stir up racial and anti-Muslim prejudice. An adhoc group has been formed called North West London United to oppose them on July 19th. NW London United aims to bring all members of the community together to tell the South East Alliance that they are not wanted here.

North West London United has prepared a statement that they ask people and I have been happy to do so:

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The South East Alliance (SEA), a group of racist, Islamophobic thugs is threatening to return to Cricklewood on Saturday July 19^th. This group, made up of remnants of the Essex branch of the EDL, includes known fascists and has links to Ulster loyalists. They say they are demonstrating against the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood, but since that organisation moved to Austria in April before the SEA came to Cricklewood on 14^th June, they clearly intend simply to bring their message of hatred to disrupt Cricklewood’s vibrant multicultural community.

In Cricklewood, as in the whole of North West London, we are proud of our diversity. Here people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour, language or place of birth. We will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united on June 14^th to show the SEA that there is no place here for their racism and Islamophobia. We ask you to join us on 19^th July to do the same again.

Please add your name to this statement either by signing below or by emailing

nwlondonunited@riseup.net