Having considered the evidence provided by the sponsors and the design team, Ministers have now confirmed that 2011 is the realistic date for the new buildings to be completed for the Academy. The design team appointed to design the new Academy has shown that it was no longer feasible to achieve a 2010 opening date for the new Academy buildings at Stamford House, particularly in view of the need to work sensitively with the planners and local community on the design and construction process for the proposed new buildings.
In response to requests from local residents, the sponsors did consider the feasibility of admitting pupils ahead of the 2011 completion date, using temporary accommodation elsewhere in the borough, prior to the Academy opening at Stamford House. The Project Steering Group carefully considered a number of options but found that none of them offered suitably located or appropriate accommodation for the provision of an effective education for 120 students beginning secondary school, particularly one with the academy’s specialism. Whilst accepting that this may disappoint some families who were hoping for admission in 2010, the sponsors’ commitment to providing the best possible education in buildings that are fit for purpose means that all project resources will now be focused on the completion of the Academy for its first intake in September 2011.
Hammersmith Academy Trust