New Surbiton free school provider sets sights on King Charles Centre

The free school trust planning to open a new primary academy in Surbiton has set its sights on the King Charles Centre.

Stamp Education Trust applied this week to the Department for Education (DfE) for permission to help alleviate what its founder called a "dire" need for primary places in the area of Surbiton, Tolworth and Berrylands. GEMS Learning Trust's had tried to open a school in Surbiton, but the Education Funding Agency (EFA) plumped for Swan House, in Kingston town centre, as its preferred site. The agency still owns the building.

Stamp hopes for an interview with DfE officials by December, Mr Rossetti said. But a decision on where the school will go is a long way off, he added. After working with Achieving for Children to identify the part of the borough most in need of new primary places, Mr Rossetti said he discovered a projected deficit in Surbiton and Tolworth of nearly five forms of entry - or 145 pupils - by 2021.

Stamp announced its intentions to apply for a new school in April and held consultation events at the centre, at the corner of Hollyfield Road and King Charles Road, in July. The application comes after primary headteachers held a crisis meeting with Kingston's MPs to say they were unfairly losing out on Government cash in a "funding crisis" that made it difficult to train and retain teaching staff.

Stamp also runs Thompson House School in Sheen Lane, Mortlake, which opened its permanent site last June.

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