A new free school is set to open its doors on the same site as a social housing project which offers a home to ex-offenders, recovering drug addicts and the homeless.

Residents in Lee have criticised the secondary school’s choice of temporary location, claiming parents are not being fully informed of the housing project when they sign their children up to enrol for September 2016.

But Nick Zienau, the chief executive of the International Academy of Greenwich (IAOG), denied any safeguarding concerns because he said the school and the project have separate entrances.

He claimed “anxious local residents” were using the project as reason for why the site is unsuitable to educate children.

The IAOG, which has been trying to open for three years, will be based on the King’s Church site in Meadowcourt Road, Lee, which is also home to eight residents of the Jericho Road project.

On its website the social housing project explains that it provides accommodation and support for “rough sleepers, the homeless, ex-offenders, those coming out of substance abuse rehab and those with mild mental health issues”.

This Is Local London:

Marika Douglas, 53, of Meadowcourt Road, said residents were unaware of the school’s plans until towards the end of the public consultation, when they raised their concerns with both the staff and the Education Funding Agency, which provides money for free schools.

She said the school “couldn’t have picked a worse location”.

Mrs Douglas, who has lived in the road for 50 years, told News Shopper: “Why would they put it there? It’s ridiculous.

“We’re not judging King’s Church, it’s great that they’re helping people.

“I care about the children being next to them.”

She said the school is in the wrong for knowingly placing its students in close proximity to the Jericho Road residents and that parents need to be made aware.

TOP STORIES

On its website the International Academy makes clear that after two academic years at King’s Church the school will move to its permanent location at the Bowring Sports Centre on Eltham Road.

However that move is subject to the outcome of a feasibility report and planning permission, meaning by 2018 the 250 pupils could be left without a permanent building.

Mrs Douglas said the school has let parents down before, when it failed to find a suitable premises in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

She fears this will be repeated in 2018, when pupils have already begun their education.

“There’s no guarantee whatsoever that this is going to happen, it’s very wrong of them to do that,” she said.

“They haven’t got a plan B - that is the outrage.

“It’s horrific, it’s just laughable but it isn’t because these are children.”

This Is Local London: Chief executive Nick Zienau - 'extremely disappointed'

Nick Zienau, the chief executive of the International Academy of Greenwich. 

Mr Zienau said parents had raised questions about the possibility of planning permission being refused during the school’s recent open day.

He told News Shopper: “We explained that the EFA had an obligation to find a location for our school and had confidence they would fulfil this obligation.”

Responding to concerns raised about safeguarding, Mr Zienau said the Jericho Road project was also mentioned to parents.

He said: “These are in two separate properties adjacent to the building and as such clearly have no access to each other or the temporary location.

“Parents were then shown the physical layout of the building and could see that our space on the whole of the 1st floor with access through the main entrance to Meadowcourt Road was entirely secure from any intrusion from any neighbour or member of the public not authorised to be in the school.”

A spokeswoman for the EFA told News Shopper: “All schools are subject to rigorous safeguarding checks by the EFA ahead of opening, as well as pre-opening inspections by Ofsted.

“The temporary site for the International Academy of Greenwich is separate to the Jericho Road site and is secured from anyone not authorised to be there.

“The trust has discussed the location and layout of the school site with prospective parents and local residents at a recent open day.”