Islington Council is currently calling for residents’ views on the proposed plans for the new St Mary Magdalene Academy development.<br><br>The period of formal consultation on the St Mary Magdelene Academy Trust’s planning application started on 11 August and will run until 1 September. Copies of the plans and a model of the proposed development are available for viewing at the council’s Municipal Offices (222 Upper Street). Copies of the plans are also available at the Islington Central Library (2 Fieldway Crescent). <br><br>There will also be a public meeting on Wednesday 7 September from 7.30pm–10pm at the Resource Centre (356 Holloway Road). The meeting will take the format of a question and answer session chaired by Islington’s Executive Member for Children, Councillor James Kempton.<br><br>Submissions and comments received as a result of the consultation and public meeting will be considered in the council planners’ report on their assessment of the planning application.<br><br>On 27 September, it is intended that a report will be presented to the West Area Planning Committee, who will decide on the application. Late submissions and comments on the planning application will still be accepted and considered up until that date.<br><br>Cllr Kempton, Executive Member for Children and Young People said: Cllr Kempton, Executive Member for Children and Young People said: “We have consulted at every stage of the Academy and now we want people to tell us what they think of the proposed plans for the new school buildings.<br><br>“The school will benefit the whole community and give parents and pupils more choice. It will become part of Islington's family of schools that have already seen huge improvements in education in the borough by working more closely together. <br><br>"Your views are important. We want to know what you think and what you want from your school. I'd like to encourage as many people as I can to take this chance to come and see the proposed plans and give us their views."<br><br>Notes for the Editor<br><br>About the planning application<br><br>The planning application includes proposals for new four buildings along with playgrounds and landscaping. The development would be phased to allow the existing primary school and early years centre to remain operational during the overall construction. The first phase of the works would be accommodation for primary and early years education, and the central building of the academy, with the other buildings being constructed in stage 2.<br><br>Total costs for the development are likely to be over £30million, of which £2million will come from sponsors and the rest from central Government. Fielden Clegg Bradley Architects are the architects for the project. <br><br>About the St Mary Magdelene Academy<br><br>The name – St Mary Magdelene Academy – has been chosen following extensive consultation which showed the importance of that name to the local community. <br><br>Over 5,000 questionnaires were circulated to stakeholders including parents, staff, governors, local residents and neighboring schools during the initial consultation period before Christmas. There was also a number of public meetings to discuss the proposals. Over 600 questionnaires commenting on the proposals were completed and returned. Some of the key results of the consultation were:<br><br>• 60% of the responses were in favour of establishing the new academy<br>• 52% supported the proposal that the new academy should provide education for pupils aged 5-19<br>• 49% supported the proposal that the academy should provide learning and recreational facilities for the community<br>• 88% opted to keep the name ‘St Mary Magdelene’<br><br>The academy will incorporate the St Mary Magdelene Primary School (which currently occupies part of the site earmarked for the new school), and so will be one of a handful of all-through schools providing education for pupils from the ages of 5 to 19. In addition, there will be a 30-place Children’s Centre on the site.<br><br>The St Mary Magdalene Primary School will continue to operate until the end of August 2007, with the new St Mary Magdelene Academy set to open in September 2007. <br><br>Academies are all-ability schools established by sponsors from business, faith or voluntary groups working with partners from the local community and the Department for Education and Skills. Academies are located in areas of disadvantage. They either replace one or more existing schools facing challenging circumstances or are established where there is a need for additional school places. The Department expects academies to form part of the Local Education Authority's strategic plans to increase diversity in secondary provision. 17 academies are already open and the Government hopes to have 200 open or planned by 2010. <br><br>The St Mary Magdelene Academy is being sponsored by the Church of England through the London Diocesan Board for Schools. <br><br>All academies have a curriculum specialism and this one will specialise in Humanities and Global Citizenship.<br><br>Pupils who are part of the primary department of the new school will have the right to transfer automatically to the secondary department. That will leave around 150 places for pupils from other primary schools. Of those places 70% will be known as ‘community places’ and 30% will be ‘foundation’ places with priority going to those who attend other Church of England schools in Islington.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009