MP continues to raise concerns about much-delayed Oakley Grove School

By James Smith 5th Sep 2023

Matt Western says parents have been let down by the local councils (image via Matt Western's office)
Matt Western says parents have been let down by the local councils (image via Matt Western's office)

Parents and children have been "let down" and "left to face a building site" not the new school they were promised, local MP Matt Western has said.

Having been expected to open this week, the over-budget Oakley Grove School will not welcome students until September 2024, with students forced to study at other local schools until the new facility opens.

Oakley School was first given planning permission in 2019, to provide an all-through education from ages 4-18 for the adjacent new Oakley Grove estate and other new housing estates nearby.

MP for Warwick and Leamington, Mr Western raised the delay in Parliament back in April 2023 calling for a debate on the delivery of infrastructure in new housing developments and has said residents have been "badly let down" by Warwickshire County Council and the former administration at Warwick District Council.

Many parents have expressed their frustration and concern for their children's education following the year long delay and news that the sixth form will no longer be provided.

Children who were due to start Year 7 at Oakley School this September will do their first year of secondary school at Myton School, over three miles away, with these pupils then moving to Oakley School in September 2024.

Katie Arundell a local parent expressed her concern about this: "I moved to New Warwick Gates back in 2018 hoping for my child to attend Oakley School from Year 7 and have the benefit of attending one school from age 11 up to 18 but feel we have been really let down.

"They will now have to spend a year at Myton and then move to Oakley next September.

"It is already such a big change and adjustment going to secondary school and I fear we're making them have that massive change twice in such quick succession."

Matt Western has also said that questions need to be asked about the huge increase to the cost of the school, now set to cost over £60 million - an increase of £10 million or 20 per cent.

On the delay and cost, he said: "Oakley School should have been ready this week and opening its doors to the first cohort of pupils but instead, it's a year behind schedule and £10 million over budget.

"Local children have been badly let down and their parents are understandably frustrated by the impact this will have on their education."

     

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