Fulham Boys School Gets Go Ahead from Government
Church of England school set to open in September 13
Fulham Boys School is set to open its doors in September 2013 after its application to open a free Church of England secondary school for boys was approved by the Department for Education.
Following the announcement from the DoE on July 13, FBS Chair, Alex Wade, said: " This is fantastic news for Fulham parents. There's currently a big gap locally at secondary level for boys, and we’re delighted that the Department has bought into our vision for an outstanding education, specifically designed to raise local aspirations and bring out the best in boys."
FBS aims to open in September 2013, with its first intake of 120 year 7 boys. A site has yet to be confirmed, but the school says negotiations will now progress as a priority. FBS will also be setting in train its plans to recruit its head teacher.
Says Alex: " We’re looking for an inspiring head and teachers who will motivate FBS boys to strive for academic excellence in core subjects, who will encourage sporting endeavour, and who will deliver our innovative plans for enterprise to be woven throughout curricular and extra-curricular activities."
FBS is the result of many years of campaigning by Fulham parents for a local C of E school for their sons to progress to from the excellent primaries in the Borough. It says inclusivity is core to its vision, providing an opportunity for all boys from the local community to develop their individual talents.
The proposed admissions policy will give priority to C of E families for 50% of the places, if oversubscribed, with the other 50% open to families from all faiths and none.
FBS will be partnering with the Diocese of London in translating this vision into a reality, drawing on the Diocese’s considerable expertise in establishing successful schools such as the Chelsea Academy.
Inigo Woolf, Acting Director of the London Diocesan Board for Schools says: " We’re delighted to be supporting such a compelling, parental proposal for a new school. We were immediately struck by FBS’ vision of inclusivity and mutual respect, its plans to embed a new notion of social enterprise into the curriculum and its ambitions to make the most of Fulham’s outstanding sporting opportunities.
" I have every confidence that, together, we will build a school that will set a benchmark for enterprise, for aspiration and for excellence for years to come."
FBS director and Fulham parent, Jonny Ambrose, says: " We owe huge thanks to everyone who supported us in getting to this stage – our local MP, our local council, our local churches but above all, to all the Fulham parents who have been fantastic in buying into our vision."
The Department of Education also gave the green light this week to the expansion of Hammersmith's West London Free School to add a primary school to the one year old secondary.
The plan is to locate the primary school at Cambridge Grove, where the secondary school is currently based, providing an "‘all-through" school for children aged three to 19. The secondary school’s long term home will be Palingswick House, Hammersmith from September 2013, pending refurbishment.
The school also has a sibling policy that means any sibling of a child already at the secondary school will automatically get into the primary, and vice versa.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council says that ccording to current projections, 1,643 children of primary school age will be applying for reception places in 2013. There are currently 1,508 places available. Additional permanent and temporary 'bulge' places are currently being developed in schools where demand is greatest. These include St Stephen’s Primary School, Pope John Primary School and Burlington Danes Academy.
The proposed catchment area for students at Fulham Boys School is in a 1.5 mile radius centred on Fulham Library, which takes in the whole of Fulham plus parts of West Kensington, Chelsea and Putney.
If you are a parent interested in applying for a place for your son, you can sign up at the school's website
July 20, 2012
