Six-week hunt for school boss (From Wiltshire Times)

Council seeks firm to run primary academy

8:00pm Saturday 2nd March 2013 in Wiltshire

Plans for a new primary school in the east of Trowbridge continue to gather pace as Wiltshire Council start the hunt for a firm to govern and run the school as a business.

At the start of next week, letters will be sent out to suitable organisations who could run the academy, which is expected to open in September 2014.

Planning permission has already been given for the building, which will be near Green Lane, and which will initially have 105 pupils in seven classes.

The new school is needed because more homes are being built in the area. The council thinks it will boost the ongoing regeneration of Trowbridge.

Nick Glass, Wiltshire Coun-cil’s manager for school strategic planning, said: “Throughout this process we have followed the Department for Education guidelines consulting the local community about the plans and some very useful things have come out of our consultation.”

The application deadline for companies who want to govern the new academy is April 15, with a shortlist being put together and interviews due to take place in May.

Mr Glass said: “We have also future-proofed the site so that if more houses come we can extend the building and have 10 classes and go up to 14 if needed.”

The council is using the success of Melksham Oak as its inspiration for this project.

Once an organisation has been selected to govern the school, the Department for Education and MP Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Education, will be required to give permission for their application.

Mr Glass said: “I would be very pleased to hear from any businesses and organisations who would like to be a part of this project.

“As far as I’m concerned, this is going to be a great opportunity for Trowbridge.”

Next week Wiltshire Council will also be approaching construction companies to get quotes to build the new school.

Clara Davies, Wiltshire Council’s school buildings and primary place planning co-ordinator, said: “We are looking for the work to start on site in around June or July, with it taking around a year to build.

“With this kind of project we aim to finish at that sort of time so we can comfortably get the equipment into the building.”

To find out more about the project or criteria for governing the academy, email nick.glass @wiltshire.gov.uk

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