'Much needed' secondary school proposals await Middlesbrough Council approval

A proposed site for a new secondary school is to be considered by Middlesbrough Council next week.

The new, free school could address a shortage of places in the town, and is expected to open in temporary accommodation in autumn 2020.

Urgent action was required this year in March to provide a further 92 Year 7 places to meet demand in time for a September start.

With demand continuing to grow, it’s estimated the council will need to find up to 1,570 new places by 2025/26.

The council has worked with the Outwood Grange Academy Trust (OGAT) on the establishment of a new school under the government’s Free School Programme, and OGAT’s bid was accepted in June.

A site at Middlehaven near Middlesbrough College has been identified and agreed in principle with the Department for Education.

Subject to executive approval, the 9.44-acre plot between Pioneering Way and Gray Street will be sold to the DfE for development in line with the Middlehaven masterplan.

OGAT’s success could attract over £20m in inward capital investment into Middlesbrough’s education infrastructure over the next three years. Construction of the new school is expected to be completed in 2021/22.

Councillor Barrie Cooper, Middlesbrough Council’s executive member for children’s services, said: “As a council, we have a statutory duty to ensure there are enough school places to meet demand, and we’ve worked closely with local schools to achieve that.

“However, a growing population and the quality and popularity of the town’s schools means the time has come to add to our secondary school provision. The proposed site at Middlesbrough offers the ideal solution, and is another major building block in the development of the one of the region’s most important regeneration sites.”