PROPOSALS to build a new eight-form secondary school building in Thurrock have been revealed as the community are invited to comment on the plans.
Orsett Heath Academy opened its doors to a full cohort of Year 7 pupils in September 2020 in interim accommodation at Thurrock Rugby Football Club. As the school is set to grow year-on-year, the school will need a purpose-built school building to accommodate its 1200 students in years to come and meet the pressing local need for additional secondary school places.
The plans for phase two of the building works have now been revealed by developers Caledonian Modular on behalf of South West Essex Community Education Trust and the Department for Education. The new school will be built near to the school’s interim building, adjacent to King George’s Field, off Stanford Road, in Grays.
Members of the community are invited to find out more about the plans and provide their feedback before the full planning application is submitted. Further information can be found online at www.orsettheathacademy.co.uk.
There will also be a virtual public webinar on 10th June 2021 at 6pm where members of the community can find out more about the plans from the project team.
The proposals for the new school building will create a modern teaching environment that will allow the school to deliver a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum. It aims to create a landmark building for the local community that is sensitive to its context and surrounding area.
The majority of the teaching space will be located within a 3-storey block set back from Stanford Road and neighbouring dwellings, screened by trees. The sports hall and main hall at the north west of the site are 2-storeys in height, and the sports facilities lie low at a single storey.
The school’s facilities will also be opened up for the local community to use, such as land devoted to sports pitches, an all-weather pitch and playing fields which have been designed through extensive consultation with Sport England. The rugby will continue to have access to the facilities which will include new rugby pitches as well.
Steve Munday, Chief Executive Officer for South West Essex Community Education Trust, said: “We are delighted to share these exciting plans with the local community. We have worked closely with local organisations over the last few years to make sure we are creating a state-of-the-art secondary school in Thurrock, while improving the facility surrounding the school for local people and existing clubs.
“Orsett Heath Academy has already had a fantastic first year, despite the challenges of Covid-19, in its temporary accommodation. However, this fantastic new school building is desperately needed to meet the urgent need for more secondary school places in Thurrock in the coming years.”
The consultation will run from Friday 4th June through to Sunday 20th June and all local residents are invited to visit the website or attend the public webinar and provide their feedback.
Barrie Newman, Project Director for Caledonian Modular, added: “We are pleased to be bringing forward a proposal to construct a new purpose-built, eight-form secondary school that is sensitive to its local surroundings and provides the required facilities of a modern school.
“As part of the process of developing our plans, we are keen to receive thoughts and feedback from local residents and the public, before finalising any planning application and look forward to hearing people’s views.”
Subject to planning permission, the school plans to open in its permanent site during the academic year 2022/23.
To have your say:
You can complete an online survey by visiting www.orsettheathacademy.co.uk
Alternatively, you can send your feedback via email, Freephone or Royal Mail Freepost, or request a paper copy of the survey using the details below:
- EMAIL: [email protected]
- FREEPHONE: 0800 4703746
- FREEPOST: FREEPOST OHA
Or you can attend the Public Webinar on Thursday 10th June at 6pm. Please contact the project team using the contact details above to book a place.
