Plans for new Oxford secondary school are rejected again (From Oxford Mail)

Plans for new Oxford secondary school are rejected again

10:30am Monday 18th March 2013 in News By Fran Bardsley, covering Education, East Oxford and Cowley. Call me on 01865 425439

PLANS for a new secondary school in Oxford have been turned down by the Government – making it the second free school in the city to face rejection in a week.

For the second year running, the proposed Oxford New School failed to make it to the interview stage for its application to become a state-funded independently-run school. It followed a decision by county councillors to refuse planning permission for the Lord Nuffield Club in Cowley to become the Tynedale Community School because its grounds were too small. Lead proposer of the Oxford New School bid, Eylan Ezekiel, said he was “shocked and surprised” by the decision.

No location was announced for the school – which would have been Oxfordshire’s first new secondary school since 1972 – but it would have taken up to 100 pupils each year in the south and east of the city and opened next year.

Mr Ezekiel, pictured, said it was unclear why the application had been rejected.

A group of parents, teachers and education professionals behind the application are planning to meet again this week to discuss their next move, but Mr Ezekiel confirmed they would not be reapplying this year.

Department for Education spokesman Pete Austin said: “The free school application process is competitive and only the strongest applications are successful.”

“It is essential plans are robust.”