UCL Academy escapes government cuts as Michael Gove finally approves scheme

How the new school will look

Friday August 6, 2010

By RICHARD OSLEY

EDUCATION Secretary Michael Gove has approved funding for the UCL Academy planned for Swiss Cottage – meaning Camden's flagship new school project will escape the government's cuts.

As the New Journal first revealed online this morning, the project has survived a massive scaling back of Labour's Building Schools for the Future investment programme. The academy, which will be built at the top end of Adelaide Road, had previously been put 'under review' by Mr Gove. Repairs to existing secondary schools worth around £170 milllion, however, remain cancelled.

Camden's education chief Labour councillor Heather Johnson said: "I am very relieved that we will now be to go ahead with these three key projects. Camden families certainly need these additional secondary school and special school places and it’s good news that at least some of the work that’s been put in by heads, governors and students will be realised. However, this is just one third of the programme we had planned. Many other schools that deserved to benefit have lost out and this is a huge disappointment to young people right across the borough. We will continue to press the government for the resources that the other schools still desperately need."

Liberal Democrat leader Councillor Keith Moffitt said: "A new school in the north-west of Camden, with a respected partner like UCL, was one of the first priorities of the Liberal Democrats when we were elected four years ago. The previous Labour administration had simply ignored the shocking fact that fewer than half of Camden’s children get a place in Camden secondary schools – and many in Camden’s Labour party did everything they could to stop the new academy going ahead."

Conservative leader Councillor Andrew Mennear said: "It is absolutely wodnerful news because we have demonstrated that there is a need for more places. There have been ideological differences about academies but people have seen that UCL is prepared to work with Camden's family of secondary schools. It wants to work with us. We wouldn't have agreed for them to be the sponsors if they hadn't."

A UCL statement said: "UCL is delighted to receive confirmation that the UCL Academy project will proceed on the Swiss Cottage site in Camden. We have put an enormous amount of effort and development time into our proposals, and
very much look forward to continuing to work with Camden Council and with BAM (contractors) to deliver an outstanding school. We are still working to an opening date of 2011 and will make more information available to parents on our website in the next few weeks."

Planning councillors approved designs for the buildings planned for Adelaide Road, Swiss Cottage, at the Town Hall last night.

Mr Gove's statement said: "I know how hard councils and schools have worked on these projects and I have been anxious to ensure we can do everything we can, in difficult economic times, to support the crucial work of raising educational standards. Planning for these projects is well advanced and we are keen they should proceed without further delay. I'm determined that we press ahead with the academies programme and want all those schools identified as future academies to enjoy the freedoms and benefits academy status brings. We will also work with councils, sponsors and the construction industry to ensure we bear down on costs and bureaucracy so every new school is built in as cost-effective and efficient a way as possible, and I am delighted that they have already responded so positively to this challenge."