Greenwich Council plans to buy college for primary place boost (From News Shopper)

Greenwich Council plans to buy college for primary place boost

7:10am Friday 3rd February 2012 in News By Mark Chandler

GREENWICH Council’s cabinet may have voted to shut down Blackheath Bluecoat last month, but their leader is all set to buy a new school.

Councillor Chris Roberts will decide this week whether the council should buy the building currently used by Holborn College in Woolwich Road, Charlton, for use as a three form of entry annex for an existing primary school.

Under the plans, the college would remain open, moving into a central London building.

It is not known how much the building would cost but the plan, according to a council report, would require around £900,000 to make the site, its play area and facilities suitable for primary children.

The borough is in desperate need of primary school places with a 17.9 per cent rise in the birth rate from 3,963 in 2005 to 4,674 in 2010.

Greenwich requires at least 17 more forms of entry – space for 510 youngsters - by 2013/14.

Twelve have been provided by expanding other primaries, but that still leaves the borough short of five.