As part of the Strategic Review of Secondary Education in Croydon a series of consultation meetings were held during the period January to March 2006. The Review was necessary to ensure that secondary education in Croydon is cost effective, supports the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative and provides provision which meets the needs of the 21st century.

Mouchel Parkman were appointed to undertake a Secondary Schools Premises Review, which formed part of the programme of work leading to the BSF submission in Autumn 2008. The Review comprised a detailed site visit to 19 of the authority’s 21 Secondary Schools. No surveys were carried out on Ashburton Community School which is a new PFI building and Stanley Technical High School for Boys, which was rebuilt as Harris Academy South Norwood opening in November 2007. The Secondary Review is available to download by clicking on the link.

Croydon are in Wave 7 of the Partnerships for Schools Building Schools for the Future programme and will receive funding for the programme in 2010. The proposals formed on the basis of the secondary review were presented to Cabinet on 13th November 2008. Further information is containted in the proposals document.

Over £350m investment has been secured for investment in Croydon’s schools over the next three years:

• Archbishop Tenison’s CofE High, Bensham Manor, Coloma Convent School, Edenham High, St Andrews, St Giles, St Mary’s High, Shirley High, Thomas More Catholic High, Virgo Fidelis, and Woodcote High will be resized and/or add sixth-form provision

• Ashburton Community School, Haling Manor School and Selsdon High School will become academies

• Addington High School will be refurbished and become a London Challenge Trust School

• Consultation will take place on whether Archbishop Lanfranc should become an academy, depending on the performance of the school this year

• Westwood Language College will add sixth-form provision and become a National Challenge Trust school

• How to increase the number of school places for boys in the north of the borough will be examined in further detail this year

• St Joseph’s, Norbury Manor Business and Enterprise College and Riddlesdown High will be rebuilt and refurbished

• Beckmead School will be rebuilt and refurbished to offer state-of-the-art facilities for pupils with special educational needs

Further information is available in the winter edition of the newsletter.

The Council has entered into an innovative partnership with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames to combine expertise in provision whilst also reduce procurement costs associated with the BSF project. The aim is to strengthen the BSF bid for both Boroughs and create a joint Local Education Partnership to procure and project manage the construction across both boroughs.