We are fortunate in Kenilworth to have excellent schools for our young people. Kenilworth School is already widely respected as an outstanding school, which is highly effective in delivering outcomes that provide exceptionally well for its pupils’ needs and ensure that they leave very well equipped for the next stage of their education, training or employment.
Now, the time has come for a new chapter for the school. After a huge amount of work on the part of many, the school is embarking on an exciting project as it looks to relocate to a new, purpose built secondary school and sixth form offering improved teaching, learning and sporting facilities at Southcrest Farm on Glasshouse Lane, to the east of Kenilworth.
The school has now submitted a planning application to Warwick District Council to seek full planning permission for the new site. The application is for new facilities to include a new three storey secondary school and sixth form building, walking and cycle access and egress from Glasshouse Lane, parking spaces for cars, school buses, electric vehicles, sheltered bicycle racks, internal drop-off zones, sports pitches, landscaping and auxiliary outbuildings. It is due to be considered by the WDC planning committee very shortly.
The proposed site is allocated for educational use in the Warwick District Council Local Plan adopted in 2017. At the same time as delivering a brilliant new school, the move from the current school sites will assist with the delivery of the wider Local Plan through use of the areas the current school will vacate. It is hoped that Kenilworth will also benefit from enhanced sports provision at the new school site, to include six high quality grass pitches, an all-weather pitch, an outdoor 400m athletics track, outdoor tennis courts and a basketball area.
As well as providing for the current cohort, it is envisaged that the new facilities will allow the school to increase capacity so that it provides places for 2,200 pupils. Every additional place will provide an opportunity for another child to flourish and benefit from the offering of this exceptional school. I have recently visited the school and talked to current pupils about the plans, and particularly those who hope to be amongst the first to benefit from the new sixth form facilities if planning is approved and the build goes ahead in good time. The plan is for the sixth formers to enjoy the benefits of sharing the same site as Years 7 to 11, whilst still having their own space within it to prepare them for when they leave to go into Further/Higher Education or industry. Importantly, there will also be an emphasis on creating sensory spaces and a dedicated SEN area for the benefit of the wider school.
I am confident that the new school will be pivotal in delivering the best possible secondary education for the current and future young people of Kenilworth. I am fully supportive of the project and hope that it will come to fruition as soon as possible so that as many young people as possible can benefit from it. The sooner the project is delivered, the sooner the current pupils in the lower years at Kenilworth School – and all of the children currently at our excellent Primary Schools across the area – will have the opportunity to experience the new and purpose built facilities to contribute to their school and learning experience and allow them to reach their full potential.
You can find out more at: http://www.ksn.org.uk/relocationproject
