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Pinner Free School

21 replies

Paddington68 · 02/04/2014 07:26

You may have seen the press, posters on the High Street or even come to one of the meetings last week. Bishop Ramsey School and the London Diocesan Board for Schools are proposing to open a new secondary school on the site of Heathfield School. //www.pinnerfreeschool.org.

What do people think about this?

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FiveHoursSleep · 02/04/2014 13:53

I would prefer my children went to schools that weren't affiliated with a particular faith, so would prefer Heathfield was taken over by the rival bid;
[http://www.pinnerhighschool.org.uk Pinner High School]
It is unlikely that any of my children would attend either of these schools, but we are local and have plenty of friends with children approaching High School age, and the Pinner High School sounds by far the more popular of the two bids.

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ArabellaRockerfella · 02/04/2014 18:45

Any school take over is better than the site being sold for luxury housing, which could happen! So I urge everyone to support the local community and register interest.
I am local and also support the Pinner High School bid :)

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Paddington68 · 02/04/2014 23:54

The % of faith places is up for debate at Pinner Free which is why they are asking people to fill in their survey.
I've not seen much about the high school, have they had any public meetings?

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ArabellaRockerfella · 03/04/2014 09:18

The Pinner High School proposes an additional small unit for students with ASD. The proposal has been put together by a consortium of Harrow High school's head teachers e.g Nower Hill & Whitmore. Entrance would be based on proximity to the school. You can find out more at //www.pinnerhighschool.org.uk
There hasn't been a public meeting but local school children; primary and secondary, have been given leaflets and they have them in the libraries.
The secretary of state for education will make the final decision based on local need and support. You can register your support on the website too.

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TheHoneyBadger · 03/04/2014 09:20

i'd go with the non faith school.

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Paddington68 · 03/04/2014 22:23

Pinner Free are also planning a unit for autism. Just wondered why people didn't want a faith school when there isn't a Church of England secondary in Harrow.

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FiveHoursSleep · 03/04/2014 23:51

Because I don't think that a borough needs a faith school. IMO all schools should be secular.

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doodledotmum · 04/04/2014 16:43

Is this an extra school? If so then people should support it unless they want more school place shortages, what ever faith or politics. Think if it as adding choice, whether you would use if or not. Our local free school was supported by 100s on that basis - just because any extra places were desperately needed

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FiveHoursSleep · 04/04/2014 16:51

doodledotmum There are two different groups vying to set up a school on the same site.
Only one school will be able to set up there, so local people need to make a choice about which they prefer.

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doodledotmum · 04/04/2014 16:57

Oh ok - see it now..Blimey that's tricky! Ours was a bit like that as there is one site the free school wanted but an academy proposal wanted it. We are ending up with both, which is an amazing result Grin

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sugarfoot · 04/04/2014 17:40

Unfortunately I doubt if it will come down to what local people want. Gove turned down a highly popular, greatly needed and long-planned free school application in S Camden because he doesn't like the Institute of Education, which backed it.

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Paddington68 · 05/04/2014 00:14

fivehourssleep - sorry but you are wrong.

While both schools would like the same site, there is a need in Harrow for two new secondary schools. The school put in their applications and will both mention the site. The Department for Education will work with Harrow Council to decide on the sites. Neither school may get Heathfield and it could become housing or whatever. Supporting both schools helps address the need in the community.

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FiveHoursSleep · 05/04/2014 10:20

Bentley Wood has expanded and there is a new secondary school proposed at the site of the Harrow Teachers College to cover this short fall. Depending on what Avanti does, and what happens with Heathfield site, Harrow may be okay for places until 2018. Then we may need two new free schools.
It's really annoying not knowing what's going to happen with Heathfield;there are so many rumours.
The GDST are purely commercial, I'm pretty sure they'd like to sell Heathfield off to the highest bidder.I've heard people say that the GDST doesn't want a school to be at the site as it may draw people away from independent schools.
But then I've heard that there is a covenant on the HF site saying that it must remain a school. I have seen no proof of this but it would be nice if it were true!

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JaneinReading · 05/04/2014 16:30

The fewer new religious schools the better. Let us keep religion out of schools. Although I am more concerned about sexist Islamic schools than boring C of E ones.

You can usually do a land registry search to check covenants as to use. Sometimes land is given by a local person only for one purpose - school and if that use stops then the land reverts to the heirs. It is certainly worth people checking if they are interested.

GDST is a registered charity. It is a bit much to suggest it's commercial.

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Paddington68 · 05/04/2014 22:05
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Paddington68 · 29/04/2014 09:26

Pinner Free School annonce admissions criteria.
25% Christian places: CofE, Methodist, Catholic or Baptist and 75% local/community places. What do you think of that? Let them know
www.surveymonkey.com/s/FYTL6QQ

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maillotjaune · 29/04/2014 18:36

After years if building work at Heathfield I just hope the site remains as a school (family members back onto the site and have had many summers in the garden accompanied by builders radios and smoke from the other side of the fence Smile )

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Paddington68 · 19/07/2014 08:26

Pinner Free School have their interview with the DfE on Monday 21/7

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FiveHoursSleep · 20/07/2014 13:43

Pinner High School have an interview too. They will admit 100% local children and will have a small ASD unit.
Fingers crossed :)

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Paddington68 · 22/09/2014 08:32

Pinner School - the new name for Pinner Free School will have an 'open day' at Bishop Ramsey school on 15 October from 7.00pm - 8.15pm.

Pinner Free School
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FiveHoursSleep · 30/09/2014 21:54

It's been confirmed that Pinner High School will be on the former Heathfield site in September 2016. Great news
www.pinnerhighschool.org.uk/news

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