Wootton Park School will involve '˜substantial' new build on Northamptonshire Police HQ site

The proposed new school on the Wootton Hall site will include a 'substantial' amount of new buildings as well as refurbishment of existing ones, the trust behind the plans says.
Dan Rosser, principal of Wootton Park SchoolDan Rosser, principal of Wootton Park School
Dan Rosser, principal of Wootton Park School

Northamptonshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Adam Simmonds announced this week that he had agreed to sell the force’s Wootton Hall site to the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

The Northampton Free School Trust, which will run Wootton Park School, says it expects to sign a funding agreement with the Education Funding Agency “imminently”.

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The trust says it has already offered 120 year seven places to successful applicants for its first intake.

Dan Rosser, who took up his post as principal in January, said: “Our team has made a huge amount of progress over the last few weeks.

“We are delighted that a heads of agreement has been reached between the Police and Crime Commissioner Office and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) for the sale of part of the Wootton Hall Park site and officials from the Department for Education have confirmed that we can fully expect our Funding Agreement to be signed imminently.

“We have been hugely encouraged by the fantastic response to our recruitment drive, which included over 60 applicants for the position of Assistant Principal KS3 Progress (L12 – 16). We have now successfully appointed our Senior Leadership Team and continue to recruit teaching and support staff to complete our team.”

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A statement from the trust said the Wootton Hall Park site will receive a “substantial new build as well as some refurbishment of the main building.”

The school will begin operation in “modular buildings” on the edge of the playing field, jointly owned by Northamptonshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, which is expected to be leased to the school for its own use, as well as that of the community.

Mr Rosser said: “We are currently working with contractors on both the temporary and permanent building projects. Surveys are being carried out, architects have been engaged and planning permission prepared. We expect work to start on the temporary school in the coming months, ready for completion by mid-July – in plenty of time to welcome our first learners on September 5.

Mr Rosser said the new school had been “substantially oversubscribed” and said all the pupils who had not been offered a place on March 1 have been added to the waiting list.

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Parents who wish to add their child to Wootton Park School’s waiting list for a 2016 Reception or Year 7 place are asked to complete the short application form on the school’s website, www.woottonparkschool.org.uk/apply.

Those who have applied for a Reception place at Wootton Park School for this September will receive notification of their decision on Monday, April 18, in line with other local schools.