THE FUTURE of a second Harris Academy Secondary school has been thrown into chaos after the decision to open the school has been postponed.
Earlier this month, there was speculation that the plans may be in trouble.
Now it has been revealed by Thurrock Council that the 85 year 7 students who were set to attend the school in September 2015, have now been hastily re-alllocated to other schools in the borough.
A Thurrock Council spokesperson said: "The site which the Education Funding Agency was seeking to acquire has been sold to another buyer and is no longer available.
"The school opening has therefore been deferred until 2016 while another site is "identified and secured.
"Since the announcement our school admissions team has been working hard to ensure all Thurrock families affected by this development receive an offer of a school place for September.
"All those affected by the government decision to defer the opening of the school have been written to with an explanation of how the council is making offers of other places.
"Everyone who applied on time for a secondary school place for September 2015 will be made an offer on Monday (2 March) which is national offer day."
Questions will no doubt be asked as to what was the rush? Many may wonder whether the school would have been better advised securing a plot of land before offering places to Year 7 students.
The "postponement" may be of some embarrassment to the Thurrock Conservative MP, Jackie Doyle Price. At the heart of her election manifesto is that she "championed a free school in West Thurrock." She may well be right and it is a judicious choice of words but perhaps some of the parents and students may feel that they have been used as political pawns?
On Friday afternoon, we interviewed the prospective parliamentary candidate for Thurrock, Polly Billington as frustration grew over whether a decision had been made.
We will endeavour to speak to Ms Billington to see what her reflections are, now that the admissions have been postponed.
