Academy could run leisure centre (From Oxford Mail)

Academy could run leisure centre

7:00am Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Wantage By Ben Wilkinson

Councillor Jenny Hannaby wants King Alfred’s Academy to take over the Wantage Leisure Centre and Civic Hall to protect them from further cuts

KING Alfred’s Academy could take control of community facilities in Wantage to protect them against a future cash drought.

Vale of White Horse District Council is exploring the idea of handing the school Wantage Leisure Centre to save it for students and residents.

Jenny Hannaby, district councillor for Wantage Segsbury, said funding could be strained as a new leisure centre is set to go alongside the 2,500-home development on Grove Airfield.

As an academy the school now controls its budget after breaking away from Oxfordshire County Council control last August.

Yesterday Mrs Hannaby said: “This will ensure the school has continued use of the centre, which is vital to the academy’s success, and that the community will be assured it will not lose it in the future.

“The school is now the major focal point of the community and because it is an academy it has a better remit.”

She said the school, which specialises in sports education, could even take over Wantage Civic Hall.

She added: “In the future I believe there won’t be the money for these facilities. We have to think outside of the box now.”

The school, which was rated outstanding by education inspectors last February, took control of the Sweatbox Youth Centre last year after the county council withdrew funding.

Mrs Hannaby said any takeover deal could include a payment to the school to help with management costs.

Headteacher Simon Spiers said: “We are enjoying working with our partners, which include Vale of White Horse (District Council), and strengthening our links with our stakeholders since becoming an academy.

“We have a growing responsibility within the community and we look forward to continuing to explore exciting possibilities of ways to improve resources and facilities both for our children and for the community.”

Mrs Hannaby is to put forward a motion at a council meeting next Wednesday suggesting the move.

Leader of the council Matthew Barber said: “The school hasn’t come to us with any proposals but we are quite happy to entertain working in partnership with them to provide facilities in Wantage.”

A meeting has now been set up later this month to discuss the idea.

Council spokesman Gavin Walton said: “David Buckle will be meeting with Simon Spiers to discuss the development of the academy and how we might work together in the future.”