New school at old Blackheath Bluecoats site set to be approved

The Education and Skills Funding Agency plans to demolish the old school in Old Dover Road to make way for the proposed Leigh Academy Blackheath.

Blackheath Bluecoats closed in 2014, and Leigh Academy hopes to replace the old buildings with modern facilities to cope with increasing demand for school places.

The site is currently home to St Mary Magdalene School, which is set to move to its permanent home on Greenwich Peninsula in November.

The proposals are for 1,150 secondary pupils in total, 900 aged 11-16 and 250 places in the sixth form.

“Major concerns” have been raised by the Westcombe Society over the size of the school, noting there would be more pupils than the former Bluecoats school.

Neighbours have also objected to the development over additional traffic and parking pressures .

However, officers of the council are happy for the plans to be approved, and recommended councillors pass the proposals next week.

In their report, officers said: “The educational need for a new secondary school is fully acknowledged. New school development to meet identified need is strongly supported through current policy.

“The overall design, scale and layout of the development is considered to be acceptable and in accordance with policies.”

Officers said public transport will be able to handle the extra strain of more pupils, and the school has included parking spaces for staff in its plans.

According to planning documents, the site will be split across two blocks – a three-storey teaching section and an entrance, sports halls and a drama studio.

A separate application – also expected to be approved at the same meeting – has been put in for temporary classrooms at the site while building work is ongoing.

Blackheath Bluecoats folded after a struggle with a budget deficit due to a decline in pupil numbers, according to officers’ reports.

Councillors will discuss the plans on Thursday, October 2.