We are delighted to announce that we have moved our plans for the permanent site for Deer Park School from London House in North Sheen to Ryde House on Richmond Road in East Twickenham / St. Margaret’s area of Richmond.
The Bellevue Place Education Trust, who are responsible for the running of the school, had originally applied for the permanent site to be in the East Twickenham / St. Margaret’s area as its preferred location. This is the area that has always been identified as having the highest demand for new school places.
Up until now it had not been possible to identify any suitable sites in the area and as a result, the Trust agreed to locate the permanent site for the school in a different area of the Borough – at London House on the A316.
The map below shows the current temporary location of the school and the proposed new permanent location at Ryde House (click to enlarge the image)
The Chair of the Bellevue Place Education Trust, Claire Delaney stated “We are delighted to announce to parents and the local community that we can follow through on our original promise to offer new high-quality primary school places where they are most needed – in the East Twickenham and St. Margaret’s area of Richmond. We do hope that parents who were anticipating the school to be at London House will continue to consider Deer Park School as their school of choice.”
The Trust, the Education Funding Agency and Lidl have already undertaken joint discussions on the Ryde House site and will shortly all be undertaking a public consultation with parents/carers and the local community on the outline plans for the site prior to the submission of planning permission around Easter 2016.
The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames has been supportive. Cllr Paul Hodgins, Cabinet Member for Education, said: “Finding a site for a new school in East Twickenham and St Margaret’s has been our single biggest challenge in implementing our school place planning strategy. As for most new schools now across London, this site has its challenges. We always agreed that London House wasn’t an ideal location. I am sure that residents around that site will be pleased.
“I am fully confident that Deer Park School will be an excellent school on this site. It has been an extremely painful and drawn out process, and it has been frustrating that we have not been able to say more throughout the process. “But we have persisted, and I am delighted that, subject to an agreed lease and planning permission, we finally have agreement for a new school in East Twickenham and St. Margaret’s.”
Deer Park School has offered to meet with prospective parents on Tuesday 1 March 2016 at Deer Park School, to hear more information about the planned move and also understand how to amend their preferences ahead of being offered a place on National Offer Day on 18 April 2016.
Prospective parents who did not state Deer Park among their initial preferences and who now wish to make a preference for it, are advised to contact the School Admissions team as soon as possible and by no later than 3rd May 2016. Similarly, parents who made a preference for the school but who, because of the school’s site move, no longer wish to hold that preference should contact the School Admissions Team within those timescales too.