Why build GPA?
- What’s happened so far?
- When will GPA open?
- What if the proposals are delayed?
- Where will GPA be located?
- How do I express an interest for my child to join GPA?
- How do I apply officially for my child to join GPA?
- What if my child does not get a place at GPA?
- Who will be the Principal of GPA?
Why build GPA?
As a result of the changing demographic profile of the Gosforth schools’ catchment area there is growingpressure for school places. Current first and middle schools in the area are already expanding in an attempt to meet current demand.
Within a few miles of the Gosforth Federated Academies, there has been extensive housing development, particularly at Newcastle Great Park where around 3,000 homes are planned by 2030, with around 2,000 having already been completed. Local Authority forecasts predict that a substantial number of additional primary and secondary school places will be required in the near future to meet the needs of this and other housing developments in the area.
What’s happened so far?
- We coordinated a leaflets drop of 10,000 leaflets to the wider community, including Newcastle Great Park area and adjacent areas.
- We advertised and informed the community via Newcastle Great Park Facebook.
- Mr Snaith (Chair of Governors) hosted a New Schools Network bid briefing at Gosforth Academy in September 2015. All interested parties were invited to attend.
- Letters and texts were sent to all parents and carers of children who attended schools within the Gosforth Pyramid of Schools.
- Advertisements were posted on notice boards at Newcastle Great Park Community Centre and Sport at Gosforth Sports Centre.
- Two public meetings were hosted by members of our senior staff at Newcastle Great Park Community Centre on 29 and 30 June 2015.
- We launched our online and hard copy surveys.
- A number of meetings were held between the Department for Education and ourselves.
- The Secretary of State for Education confirmed that our proposal to build GGPA should proceed to the next stage, the pre-opening stage.
- Admissions arrangements have been submitted for approval.
- The Principal Designate for GPA has been determined. See later (Who will be the Principal of GPA?).
- Newcastle City Council’s Planning Committee were “minded to grant” outline planning permission for the school site at a meeting on 12 January 2018
- The planning application for Cell A at Newcastle Great Park, including the two schools, was considered by Planning Committee on 14 December 2018 following a number of amendments to the proposals since it was first considered.
- The planning Committee were again "minded to grant" outline planning permission. A decision notice will be issued once the S106 legal agreement for Cell A has been signed.
- Newcastle City Council issued formal outline planning consent for Cell A, including the two schools, on 4 October 2019.
- Save Newcastle Wildlife submitted a request for a judicial review which was declined by the High Court in February 2020
- The Department for Education appointed a technical adviser to assess the planning requirements of the site in March 2020
- There are ongoing meetings and contact between the Department for Education, the Education Skills and Funding Agency, the Local Authority and ourselves
When will GPA open?
Although we had initially anticipated opening the school in 2018 in temporary accommodation with a view to the new school building opening in September 2020 this has not been possible. Now that outline planning approval has been granted, we with be working with DfE on progressing with the new school and will keep you updated on the likely opening date.
What if the proposals are delayed?
As the original proposals have been delayed, we are working with the LA on contingency plans to ensure that there will be sufficient places in Gosforth Middle Schools for all children leaving Gosforth First Schools in September 2020. We have recently submitted a planning application for an additional building on the Gosforth Academy site to help with this.
Where will GPA be located?
In October 2019 Newcastle City Council issued formal planning consent for location of a first school and middle/secondary school, including associated playing pitches, at Newcastle Great Park (NGP). The detailed design and layout of both schools are yet to be determined and separate reserved matters applications for the design of the schools will be required before they can be delivered on site. The S106 agreement includes the arrangements for the transfer of land for both schools.
You can view the Planning Committee papers and decisions and the planning application with all associated documents here: https://publicaccessapplications.newcastle.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?keyVal=OPOK2PBS0EQ00&activeTab=summary
The documentation includes the proposed location of the schools, which are close to the SAGE building.
The additional first school places at NGP will be provided by the relocation and expansion of Broadway East First School, which was agreed by Cabinet in November 2017 following consultation and agreement by the school’s governing body.
How do I express an interest for my child to join GPA?
We are currently registering interest for places. In order to do this please access our website, click on the Great Park tab at the top of the page and then click the Register Interest tab and follow the instructions.
How do I apply officially for my child to join GPA?
As stated earlier, “Admissions arrangements have been submitted for approval”. When these have been approved by the DfE, we will inform all interested parties as to the criteria for admission and the process for application for admission. These details will be published on our website and on the website of Newcastle City Council. The Academy Trust is also working with the other first and middle schools in Gosforth on co-ordinated proposals for school admissions policies, including any future feeder school arrangements. Any proposed changes to admissions policies would be consulted on in line with the statutory School Admissions Code.
Under the statutory School Admissions Code, the expected closing date for applications for the September of the year the school opens will be 31 October of the previous year with offers being made on 1 March following. Initially, offers will be conditional until the final funding agreement for the new school is signed by the Secretary of State for Education. Typically, this happens in the second half of the spring term for a school opening in September.
What if my child does not get a place at GPA?
The academy will operate a waiting list for each year group. Where in any year the academy receives more applications for places than there are places available, a waiting list will operate until the 31 December of the school year. This will be maintained by the Academy Trust and it will be open to any parent to ask for his or her child’s name to be placed on the waiting list, following an unsuccessful application. Beyond 31st December, parents seeking admission will have the opportunity to reapply for a place via an academy application form.
Positions on the waiting list will be determined solely in accordance with the oversubscription criteria, as set out in the school’s Admissions Policy.
All applicants who have been refused a place have a right of appeal to an independent appeal panel constituted and operated in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code.
Who will be the Principal of GPA?
Excellent leadership in any school is of paramount importance, and clearly we want the best person for the job. Mr. Robinson (CEO of Gosforth Group) is Principal Designate of GPA.