New Worcester City Secondary Free School

Worcester is a growing City in the heart of the West Midlands, well connected by road and rail to the rest of the UK. As a result, the City has seen its population increase over the last decade, and with it, the need for additional school places.

The number of children seeking a year seven place in Worcester has been consistently increasing over the last decade. Despite expansions at four out of the five existing secondary schools in the City, in Autumn 2020 there were fewer than 10 spare places in year seven across the City. The population of Worcester continues to grow, with increasing cohort numbers due to enter year seven over the next six years, and significant housing developments planned for the City and surrounding area as part of the South Worcestershire Development Plan.

The growth of housing will be particularly focused on the South and South East, which is supported by two secondary schools: Nunnery Wood High and Blessed Edward Oldcorne Catholic. The rise in population in this region is expected to continue with significant housing developments approved on the South Worcester Urban Expansion. Provision in the South is currently below the forecast need for the next five years, with demand approximately four forms of entry (120 places) higher than these two secondary schools can currently support.

As a result, we see fewer young people being offered a place at their preferred secondary school, and more pupils needing to travel across the City for their education. Therefore, the delivery of a new secondary school for the City was agreed at Cabinet in February 2021, and this specification endorsed for Consultation in October 2021.

The location of the proposed school will enable more pupils within the East and North East of the City to access a secondary school within their local community, whom at present are least likely to receive an offer of their preferred secondary school. It will also release pressure on demand for school places elsewhere in the City and enable those schools to support more pupils from proposed new housing.

Under section 6A of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 (the 'free school presumption') where a local authority identifies the need to establish a new school it must, in the first instance, seek proposals to establish an Academy. This specification is designed to guide Academy Trusts in submitting their application to sponsor the new school as outlined in the tender documents and has been informed by engagement with the local community and stakeholders for which it will serve.

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Additional information: Is a Recurrent Procurement Type? : No