THURROCK Council Leader and education portfolio holder, Cllr John Kent has responded to the news that the government has approved plans for a new school in Chafford Hundred.
Speaking on Thursday (19 June), he said: “While we question the need for another new school on this estate, we have a good a close working relationship with the Harris Academy, and know they understand the delicate nature of these decisions – it is far more than a simple announcement, the devil, as always, will be in the detail, detail we haven’t seen yet.
“But the Harris Academy is recognised a phenomenal school, and I don’t doubt this new school will be too.
“But I want every Thurrock school to be outstanding and we all want all our children to have the best possible education, and the important word there is ‘all’ so we must now work to ensure the creation of this school will not have the, unintentional, effect of undermining other schools in the borough.
“It’s about more than creating one new school for Chafford Hundred, the council has to ensure every child in Thurrock has the best possible chance, whether living on this estate or in Chadwell or Corringham.
“The Thurrock Education Alliance set up in the wake of the Commission brings all our schools together and I am sure this new school will play an integral part in that.”
He added: “People will ask whether it is wise to spend millions on creating one new school – or whether would it be better to spend the money to raise attainment and facilities across all our schools and to fund additional classes at Harris and elsewhere to accommodate future need?
“We are where we are and the government has made its decision. It is now up to us as a council and us as an education community to make the best of that.
“We look forward to working with this school – as we do every school in Thurrock – to get the best education we can for all our young people.”
Thank god the leader of the council is refraining from using local media to score political points.
there is no room on the estate for a new school,so if it is built off the estate there is no way that chafford residents should be allowed to control admissions,children living closest to the school should have priority.
Hello. It is a free market. Pandora’s box is wide open. Thurrock Council can no longer set the agenda in education. Harris can do what they want where they want and they can set their own rules. Mr Gove will not lift a finger. Watch this space Harris will continue to expand if their model delivers what parents want. You cannot beat the market.
Don’t look gift horse in the eye, time and time again the insatiable need for school places raises its head in the west of our borough. Existing population growth and new homes will enough pupils for all our schools. Local authority maths in this area has always let us down
At least Harris Academy have identified a long standing problem that TBC have neglected for decades, more schools are required for the amount of housing that TBC have continued to put in place with scant disregard for the required infrastructure.
Now if only Harris Academy could fund a Hospital in Thurrock 🙂
Charliefarnsbarns, you’re making children’s education sound like a business enterprise! Surly, it’s not?!
Lord Harris said “it lost £7.2m last year as its European business struggled and Britain’s housing boom failed to translate into greater spending on carpets”. (The Mail 24/06/14).
How long before the ‘exam factory’ chain also goes tits up?!