The academy set to replace Shene School has not yet been signed off by the Government with little over a month to go – but its name has been agreed.
The school will close on August 31, and an academy – to be named Richmond Park Academy – will open on the Park Avenue site the following day.
Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), the operational arm of Greensward Charitable Trust, will sponsor the academy, and has launched a website to update parents and residents.
A newsletter sent out earlier this month revealed the name of the school – chosen from a three-name poll, none of which had the word Sheen in – along with the new uniform and logo.
It also confirmed current headteacher Lesley Kirby would become principal of the academy and David Fuller, from AET, would be executive principal.
Readers were informed there had been no Government sign-off, but the borough’s schools chief said this week that should be rectified shortly.
Councillor Paul Hodgins, Richmond Council cabinet member for schools, said: “We are working closely with a Government that has a very significant workload at present.
“However, now the new academies bill has been passed we hope it will be possible to get a final decision very soon.
“The name Richmond Park Academy resulted from a competition which AET ran.”
If there is no agreement there may be no school for pupils in September, as all new schools have to be approved – unless Richmond Council rushes through a decision to rescind the Shene closure.
But Paul Mason, from the Barnes, Mortlake and Sheen Parent Promoted Foundation (PPF), said he understood many academies were signed off close to the deadline.
He said there was no alarm from parents about the delay, and he had complete faith in the current Conservative leadership to get the right agreements for the academy.
PPF, a group working to make sure there is a good standard of education in the area, asked to be a co-sponsor prior to formal approval for the scheme, but had the request turned down by the previous Liberal Democrat administration at Richmond Council.
Mr Mason added: “It’s right to take the time to get it completely right.”
Councillor Malcolm Eady, Richmond Liberal Democrats’ education spokesman, said the future of the school looked good.
He said: “My hope now is the Schools Minister will soon confirm the £16m needed for rebuilding and refurbishment of the school.”
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