Greg Hands Supports New English -Spanish Free School
Local MP wants to see new bilingual school in Fulham
This week, Greg met with representatives of King’s Group Academies, who are proposing the new school, and who have many years of experience with a small group of international British schools in Spain and Panama.
He says King’s Group Academies have already registered the support of over 175 families, situated mainly in Fulham. These parents see the plans as offering a new choice for their children’s education, with the curriculum in two languages.
The Spanish Ambassador to the UK also expressed support for the proposal, offering potential co-operation with the Embassy in the field of Extra-Curricular Activities for the schoolchildren.
The proposed school would have an English curriculum taught 50% in Spanish by native speakers and would celebrate both English and Spanish cultures and ways of life. It would welcome children of all faiths and backgrounds and says it would initially cater for children aged between four years old (Reception) and ten years old (Year five), but as the school grew it would expand to offer a full secondary school programme (up to GCSE) giving the school capacity to educate approximately 720 pupils.
A new English-Spanish school could be welcomed by families with one or more Spanish or Hispanic parent, who wish to maintain Spanish speaking outside the home, or by other families who see the value in their children learning Spanish language and culture.
Greg says: " An English-Spanish primary school in the Borough would be a great continuation of the successful Peques nursery, which I have been a strong supporter of for many years. There is a growing interest among local parents for such an institution. I am also delighted that The Spanish Ambassador to the UK has expressed support for the idea."
Greg adds that he has written to Hammersmith and Fulham Council to encourage them to identify any possible government-owned properties and to explore possibilities for King’s Group Academies to establish a free school in the borough, opening in September 2015 or 2016.
Parents wishing to support the establishment of the proposed school can find out more and register their interest on the King's Group Academies website.
You can read more about Greg's recent activities in his latest e-bulletin.
April 9, 2014
