Support for new Redhill/Merstham secondary school plan

Parents have given early support to plans by GLF Schools to open a new co-educational secondary school in the Redhill/Merstham area in time for the start of the 2017 academic year.

Since a website (www.limetreehighschool.org) was set up for parents to register their interest, there have been nearly 200 positive responses, with several of them commenting on the ‘desperate need’ for additional secondary school places in the region, and welcoming GLF’s proposals to address the issue.

GLF Schools is a Surrey-based multi-academy trust, formed in 2012 when Glyn School and Danetree Junior School formalised their existing partnership. In subsequent years, it has grown to take in 10 primary and secondary schools across Surrey and Berkshire, with two more schools joining in July and September 2015.

The multi-academy trust has a local presence and understanding of the issues facing parents in the Redhill and Merstham area, having set up Lime Tree Primary School in partnership with Surrey County Council in September 2013.

The proposed new secondary school would collaborate with the existing primary, hence the shared name but GLF Schools is clear that this is a working name only.

The current overcrowding in local primary schools demonstrates the problems that lie ahead unless urgent action is taken. For GLF’s proposal to be successful there needs to be a demonstrable demand for the new school to be established.

GLF's Executive Headteacher, Jon Chaloner, said the levels of parental interest highlighted the problem, and the enthusiasm shown for the plans proved that GLF can help to resolve it. “The levels of interest shown are hugely encouraging," he said. "The fact that Lime Tree Primary School has already been set up and that it has taken an additional class in each of its first two year groups proves that there is demand for extra capacity in the local school
system. In addition, the support from the local secondary headteachers and college principals has been exceptional."

Mr Chaloner added GLF Schools is keen to build on the early support for its plans, and encouraged parents of prospective students, particularly parents of children currently in Year 4, as they will be the first year’s cohort, to register their interest on the website
www.limetreehighschool.org.