6:09pm Wednesday 21st January 2004
Barnet is to have London's largest Church of England school - possibly with single-sex campuses - after new plans to merge two struggling establishments were announced this week.
St Mary's C of E High School in Sunningfields Road, Hendon, and Christ Church C of E Secondary School in Warnham Road, North Finchley, will reopen as a single school on two sites in September 2006, under a proposal unveiled by Barnet Council on Tuesday (January 20).
It is hoped a bigger school will be cheaper to run, attract more investment, and be able to recruit better teachers by offering enhanced career opportunities. Barnet's Tory adminstration has pledged to increase the number of single-sex schools in the borough, but both schools seem lukewarm on the idea.
The Rev Paul Taylor, chairman of St Mary's board of governors, said: "The council are for single-sex schools, but we can see some logistical problems with that. But the diocese are open to negotiations. We are enthusiastic about the new school."
Christ Church and St Mary's were both officially failing, and the council believes the schools could only improve if they were given a fresh start.
Under the plans, Christ Church will close in 2005, while St Mary's will close in 2006, creating a shortage of places for at least 12 months.
The Rev Adrian Benjamin, chairman of Christ Church's board of governors, said the new school would increase choice for parents.
"We have to provide good comprehensive education, and it should be easier to keep brothers and sisters together," he said. "But we must make sure the present students and staff do not suffer."
The new school, which has yet to be named, will have two campuses. St Mary's would move to a new building on land off The Burroughs, while Christ Church would extend onto a school field with its entrance moved onto Woodhouse Road.
The London Diocese owns St Mary's current site and plans to sell it once the move has been made, but there has been no indication yet of whether another school will buy the premises, or the land will be redeveloped.
The school will cater for 11 to 18-year-olds and will have 12 classes per year, split equally between the campuses.
"It is very exciting," said Councillor Lynne Hillan, cabinet member for children's services, education and lifelong learning. "It will increase parental choice and ensure that diversity within the borough's secondary sector is maintained. But there will be fewer C of E places in the mean time, so we cannot ensure everybody gets a C of E place in Barnet."
Tom Peryer, director of education for the Diocese of London, said: "It will be the biggest in London. The school will stay small as it is on two campuses, but we will have all the benefits of a larger school with the extra funding."
The plan has yet to be approved by the Department for Education and Skills.
Without it, the council will renovate the current school buildings. Public consultation on the plans begins on Monday, January 26.
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