School could be set up at Epilepsy Society in Chalfont St Peter
2:40pm Wednesday 22nd February 2012 in Where I Live Exclusive By Andy Carswell
A NEW school planned for Chalfont St Peter could be set up at the Epilepsy Society instead of the Holy Cross site.
Question marks over the future of the former convent have led to the group behind the plans looking for other sites in the village.
Talks have taken place with bosses at the Epilepsy Society, which Rory Staunton of the school's steering group described as positive.
He said: "We're looking at the option of siting the school at the Epilepsy Society because of all the planning problems at Holy Cross.
"We have spoken to them and they are excited at exploring the possibilities."
The Holy Cross site was the group's preferred location for the new Free School - which will take its funding from central government rather than a local authority - but planning permission has already been given for nearly 200 new homes and a care home there. That development is subject to a High Court judicial review next month however.
The formal application for the new school, which will have a Catholic ethos, will be made to the Department for Education on Friday.
More than 320 parents have registered their support for the school by filling in an online form in the three weeks since the website went live, a figure which Mr Staunton described as "incredible".
It is hoped the school will be up and running by September 2013 if the application is successful. The steering group hopes to find out in late June if they have been given the go-ahead.
Mr Staunton said: "We're confident because we've had such fantastic support from the parents and across the community.
"It's a really positive development for the area. Children will have another educational option in the area and that's really valuable."
The Epilepsy Society's director of finance and administration, Peter Collins, said: "Part of the land owned by Epilepsy Society in Chalfont St Peter has been identified by the Free Schools Gerrards Cross Steering Group as one of the three preferred sites where a planned free school could be located. "While we wish the Group success with their application, this does not involve any commitment by Epilepsy Society to lease or sell any of our land and buildings to any organisation or government body acting in association with the group, nor would it be appropriate to enter into such discussions until confirmation has been received from the Department of Education that they support the application to establish a free school in the area."
Parents can continue to register their interest in the planned school up until Friday morning. For more information on the project go to www.freeschoolgerrardscross.org.
