Why do we need a new school?

There is soon to be a shortage of school places in this area and action needs to be taken now to develop a new secondary school to meet future demand.

The Central Bedfordshire School Organisation Plan 2016-2022 highlights a shortfall in school places in Year 7 from 2019/20, due to 1,933 new dwellings planned in the Dunstable and Houghton Regis area over the next 5 years, with numbers expected to rise significantly from 2022 onwards.

Luton Borough Council also faces a big challenge in terms of secondary school capacity, where pupil numbers are forecast to increase by 33% between January 2017 and January 2024. School place needs are being met until 2022 with the expansion of the Trust’s two existing secondary schools and a new 1,200 place free school. Forecasts continue to show that 2,400 additional secondary places are required from 2019/20 until 2030/31, which means two additional 1,200 place secondary schools within this timeframe.

The Shared Learning Trust is well placed to support The Vale Secondary Free School in meeting the needs of the local community due to our existing strategies and experience. As we already run two successful secondary academies, we believe that this model can be replicated at The Vale Secondary Free School.