Three new free schools approved for Hackney

Education secretary Michael Gove

Education Secretary Michael Gove has today approved thirty-eight new free schools across the UK, three of which will be based in Hackney.

Hackney Wick Academy (HWA), Hackney New Primary School (HNPS) and Dalston Free Primary School are set to open in September 2015.

Hackney Wick Academy is a secondary school that will aim to accept 150 pupils from September 2015. Hackney New Primary School, an expansion of the existing Hackney New School, a secondary free school, will take 50 students at reception.

Free schools are independently-run and accountable directly to central government, rather than the local council.

Applications for free schools are submitted directly to the Department for Education. At the time of writing, Hackney Council was unable to comment on how many applications had been received for the borough, and how many places they will accomodate.

The next stages of the process will involve finding sites for each school.

Philippa De’Ath, Vice Chair of Governors at Hackney New School, said she was “delighted” with the announcement, adding that that team faces a “big task to get the right site.” The Hackney New Primary School team has its sights set on the former fire station on Kingsland Road, next door to Hackney New School.

Yemi Apampa, programme director of Debate Mate, the educational charity behind Hackney Wick Academy, said: “We’re pleased to have a vote of confidence from the Department of Education in support of our vision for the Hackney Wick Academy and we’re looking forward to moving on to the next stage in this exciting process.”

Hackney Council’s newly-appointed Cabinet Member for Children’s Service, Councillor Antoinette Bramble said: “We’ve always been very open to innovation within education, and the phenomenal improvements seen in our schools over the last decade are testament to that.”

“We work closely with all of the schools in Hackney and we look forward to supporting any free schools  which open in our borough. They join a family of schools with high aspirations for all of Hackney’s young people.”