Parent Bulletin: 06.11.2020

Dear Parents and Carers

This has been a mixed week, with the implementation of the latest Covid-19 restrictions meaning that we have had to cancel after-school activities; this has disappointed pupils and staff alike. We are looking forward to starting these events again as soon as we possibly can.

On a much more positive note, I’m delighted to tell you that we are now working with the Local Authority on plans to extend the age-range of the school to 11-18 years and to open a sixth form centre for 350 students on site. If all the planning permission hurdles can be overcome, we would hope to open for our first Year 12 in September 2023.

At the same time, we are planning to extend the roll of the 11-16 school from 9 forms to 11 forms of entry. This will enable us to accommodate the new families from the Cambourne West development and give us an eventual roll of 330 pupils in each year group and a total population of 1650 students in Years 7—11. This is marginally bigger than Comberton.

At this stage, we are working with Kier’s design team to ensure that both aspects of the new accommodation complement and enhance our existing facilities. We have not yet looked at any aspects of curriculum, entry requirements or other details of the proposed sixth form. We intend to offer a broad range of A’ Levels and a selection of Applied /Vocational courses, working in close collaboration with the other Trust sixth forms at Comberton and St Peters, Huntingdon.

Next week, we will open a public consultation on these plans and you will be sent the relevant information by School Post. The early-stage plan below shows the intended layout of the ground floor of the proposed sixth form. The coloured rooms are the intended development. It will be accessed both from the existing school, and via a new site entrance on the Cambourne West side.

Wishing you all a very good weekend,

Claire Coates
Principal