Theresa May has backed plans for new secondary school places in Maidenhead. Responding to the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead’s consultation on school places, Theresa emphasised the need for increased secondary school capacity in Maidenhead in order to meet an expected shortfall, and she has encouraged the council to pursue plans for a new school in the town. She also welcomed proposals to consider establishing a ‘satellite’ grammar school site in Maidenhead.
The Royal Borough’s consultation notes that there will be an expected shortfall of 100 secondary schools places in Maidenhead by 2020. Furthermore, the majority of locations considered for new dwellings as part of the Borough Local Plan are in the Maidenhead area. In her response, Theresa said that Maidenhead – rather than any other part of the Borough – should be the “clear focus” of work to increase capacity, and that if an entirely new school is to be established then Maidenhead should be the priority for its location.
Commenting, Theresa said: “I welcome the Royal Borough’s consultation and their overall approach to meeting the expected shortfall in places. Maidenhead needs to be the clear focus of this work because of the expected increase in new dwellings in the town. If there is need for a new school then Maidenhead should be considered the priority.”
Theresa also welcomed plans to consider the option of a ‘satellite’ grammar school in Maidenhead. This would allow an existing grammar school to expand in response to parental demand – although new selective schools cannot be established under current legislation.
Theresa said: “Grammar schools attract considerable support from Maidenhead families. If a good school wishes to expand in line with existing legislation then this must be seriously considered.”
