A new primary school could be built on the site of a Merton Park secondary as the council continues its search to satisfy an increasing demand for places.

Merton Council’s cabinet member for education, Councillor Peter Walker, said today he will meet the chairman of governors at Rutlish School, Peter Norrie, within the next two weeks to talk about the proposals.

Coun Walker described the plan as a “long shot” and would only be realised if a number of “problems” could be overcome, but would not say what those problems were.

He said: “I have spoken to Rutlish School on a number of occasions and I am very impressed by [headteacher] Alex Williamson and how he has turned that school around.

“During those discussions I have spoken to the chairman of school governors and raised this issue with him and will be having a meeting with him within the next couple of weeks.”

Rutlish, a comprehensive boys’ school in Watery Lane, teaches a thousand students each year and its alumni includes former Prime Minister, Sir John Major, and former Premier League footballer Steve Finnan.

If successful, Coun Walker said the new primary school at Rutlish would offer a medium-term solution but did not solve the immediate increase in demand for places, particularly in Wimbledon.

Primary schools set to take an extra class this September are Aragon, Hillcross, Cranmer, Liberty, William Morris, Gorringe Park, Singlegate, All Saints, The Priory and Dundonald.

Plans to expand Dundonald in central Wimbledon have been particularly controversial after residents launched a campaign opposing plans to build on Dundonald Recreation Ground.

Coun Walker is being investigated for bringing Merton Council into disrepute after complaints that he wrongly identified himself on behalf of Merton Council in a Labour party letter he wrote to residents from the which refuted the Save Dundonald Rec group’s “false propaganda”.

Councillor David Dean (Conservative), who represents Dundonald ward, said the plan was first mooted about three years ago and said he was pleased to see it back on the agenda.

Writing on our letters page today, Coun Dean said: “There is huge demand in this area of Wimbledon and I believe that a local school at Rutlish would mean more youngsters being able to walk to school.

“The catchment area of the other primary school, Merton Park, close by is less than 200 metres so this school will have genuine local demand.

“Anxious parents are desperate for more school capacity and knowing this plan already exists on paper should mean a very quick response from the council to ascertain the potential of the idea.”

Plans to build a new free school on the disused former Wimbledon House School in Merton Park have been called into question after a site inspection deemed it to be unsuitable.

What do you think? Leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335 or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.

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