Merton is edging ever-closer to a new secondary school, as the council work to purchase land to build on in south Wimbledon.

The exact location of the new school, which will be run by the Harris Federation, has not yet been revealed, but Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Alambritis, is confident that it will be up and running by September 2019.

Cllr Alambritis said: “These are really sensitive negotiations with landowners but it is where the demand is, in south Wimbledon in particular.

“It’s right in the middle of the borough. It’s right in the heart of the borough.

“We need to get the best possible deal for everyone. The landowners are engaging, they want to help the council and they want to do the right thing for our children.”

Merton have been seeking a site for a new secondary school since 2013, as the number of primary school children in the borough have continued to rise.

In 2005/06 there were 12,661 children attending primary schools in Merton, but in ten years this number has risen to 16,909.

In order to ease the pressure on school places before the new school is built, the council are looking into the possibility of providing a temporary school at the Merton Adult Education Centre in Whatley Avenue for 360 pupils in years 7 and 8.

If this plan goes ahead, the temporary school will be in operation from September 2018 until the new school is ready.  

The announcement in March that all adult education services were going to be moved out of the Raynes Park site by September this year was met with anger by some of the 5,000 students at the centre. 

March 16: Adult education to move out of Whatley Avenue in Raynes Park from September

Five petitions and a Twitter campaign were set up to oppose the changes but to no avail, with South Thames College due to provide many of the courses after September. 

Cabinet will consider whether to agree to authorising the buying of the land in south Wimbledon at their next meeting on Monday, July 4. Construction may begin as early as next summer

Cabinet member for education, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah said: “Merton has got some great schools that have really improved in the past few years, and demand for places is rising. After creating over 4,000 extra primary places we now need to ensure we have enough secondary school places.

"We are a business-like council, so any purchase of land to help us deliver the space for secondary school students will offer value for money, but more importantly it will offer local children the chance to get a great Merton education from five all the way through to 18.”

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