Plans for a new Bromley school specialising in science, health and wellbeing, making it the first of its kind in London, are out to public consultation this week (Saturday 10 December).

The Science Health and Wellbeing (SHaW) Futures Academy will be a centre for science, health and wellbeing excellence for 11-19 year olds. It will provide them with access to skills and learning opportunities to work in the health sector, the sports industry and applied sciences for a technical career.

The proposed school will be based at Westmoreland Road, close to Bromley South Station on a site used as a temporary primary school.It will be led by Bromley Educational Trust (BET)- a multi-academy trust, sponsored by London South East Colleges.

A range of science, health and wellbeing leaders are sponsors of the proposed school, including; King’s College Hospital NHS Trust, Oxleas NHS Trust, MyTimeActive and Canterbury Christ Church University, as the university partner. Nuffield Health is also backing the proposals.

Local communities are being asked for their views on the building proposals ahead of planning submission in the New Year.

A consultation event took place on Wednesday 07 December and a further one is planned for Saturday 10 December. Information is available online (www.shawfuturesacademy.com) and people can leave comments and feedback on the proposed plans.

Plans for the building include 11 science labs and five biomedical facilities. The shared specialist facilities include a multi-functional hall, a music centre, recording studio and food tech facility. There are areas for local community use including café space on the Upper Ground level, plus out-of-school hours space with access to kitchen and dining facilities, as well as the art room.

Sam Parrett OBE, Principal and Chief Executive of London South East Colleges, says: “SHaW Futures Academy will be a first for Bromley and London. It has the potential to equip young people with the hands-on skills and firm academic foundation needed for rewarding and successful careers.

“There is an urgent need for skilled people to support health and wellbeing in and around this area. We want SHaW Futures Academy to be a centre for educational expertise, which will attract and support people from Bromley.

“We are keen to hear views from as many people as possible. This will help us to shape our plans and ensure that the proposals meet the needs of the local community and industry.”

The Westmoreland Road site is listed for educational use under Bromley Council’s draft local plan. Current forecasts from the Greater London Authority estimate that more than 3,600 secondary places are needed to meet demand in Bromley for 2024/2025 to accommodate growing number of students. The site is also identified as a key opportunity area for Bromley.

The Education Funding Agency (EFA) is working with Bromley Council to ensure that the demand for school places and high quality education and learning is being met across the borough. The EFA, an agency of the Department for Education, manages funding to support all state-provided education for eight million children aged 3 to 16, and 1.6 million young people aged 16 to 19.

Details of the planning proposals for SHaW Futures Academy, 11-19 School on Westmoreland Road are available online -www.shawfuturesacademy.co.uk - including an online feedback form.

This week’s exhibition is the second stage of public consultation. Following planning submission in the New Year, if the plans are approved construction could start in late Spring 2017 and managed in phases, before the new school opens for September 2019.

In addition to this consultation being undertaken on the building proposals, a Statutory Consultation will be held focusing on the education offer. This will be launched on 6 January 2017 and run for six weeks. For more information on the education consultation and public events please see www.lsec.ac.uk/shaw

Based on information supplied by Sarah Newman.