'A new school would really be a great thing for the area' (From Borehamwood Times)

Meeting to discuss new Harperbury Secondary School next week

12:18pm Monday 10th September 2012 in News By Anna Slater

A meeting to discuss plans to build a new secondary school in Radlett is being held next week.

Father-of-two Clive Glover is leading the campaign to build Harperbury School at the Harperbury Hospital Site, off Harper Lane, on the cusp of Radlett and Shenley.

At the meeting, parents will be able to find out more about the new academy, which would create 100 new school places each year.

Mr Glover, of Woodfield Road, Radlett, said: “My research shows that students in the area attend at least 50 different secondary schools. “They will typically travel seven miles – but in some cases this is 20 miles each way.

“What this area lacks is a school for everyone. There are already schools that require an entrance exam, faith schools and single sex schools.

“But this could help around 40 per cent of our students to walk or cycle to school.

“A new school would really be a great thing for the area.”

Admissions to the school will be solely based on how close a student lives to the site, so students from Radlett, Shenley and Borehamwood will be eligible to apply.

The retired civil servant first set up a website two years ago, to determine whether there was an interest in a new school.

Since then he has been flooded with support from parents and teachers, who agree the need for an academy is vast.

The group have since been compiling a 150 page report which will be sent to the Department of Education just before Christmas. They will find out if their application has been successful by May 2013, and it is hoped the new school could be built in time for the September 2015 intake.

The Woodfield Road, Radlett resident, added: “We have had some really positive responses to this and so much support.

“Parents are already keen to register their younger children with us which shows there is a good demand for this.”

The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 20 at The Chapel, in Shenley Park at 8pm.