Parents’ free school plan takes step forward

PLANS FOR a free school which is being set up by parents to solve a primary places crisis in Leeds have taken a major step forward with the earmarking of a possible site.

The team behind Roundhay Park Primary School has identified the former Elmete Wood school site as an option for the school and now wants to gather the views of parents in the area.

It comes after a 10-month search last year failed to find a suitable site in time for the free school to open in September 2017 as originally planned.

Bosses at The Fair Access Trust – which formed after more than 80 Roundhay parents said they missed out on all choices of local primary schools in 2015 – acknowledged the new site is a “compromise” geographically, but stressed it is the “only option” available at this time.

Despite being on the opposite side of Roundhay Park to the ‘area of need’ in the north west, Gillian Hayward, the chairwoman of trustees, said: “We firmly believe the site at Elmete Wood represents a reasonable compromise to solve the shortage of school places in the area.

“The site fits perfectly with our vision for the school, and will allow us to create a modern and engaging learning environment.

“It must be emphasised that this is the best and only site option available to the trust at this time.”

The Roundhay Park Primary was given the initial go-ahead last year to open in September 2017 by Ministers.

Coun Lisa Mulherin said: “It is simply not true to say that the Elmete Wood site is the ‘only site option available’ and that there is a ‘lack of a site in the area of need’.

“We do not consider the Elmete Wood site as suitable. It is too great a distance from the area of need, there are significant highways issues and it is not within a reasonable walking distance with young children and so would result in an increase in the number of car journeys in the area.”

A questionnaire at www. roundhayparkprimary.org.uk/ site-consultation will gather views until February 8.