Burlington Danes Academy has announced plans for its new primary school, which was given the go ahead by the Education Secretary last month.

The school's announcement says: " We are delighted to announce that our proposal to launch a new two-form entry primary school in 2014 has been approved by the Department for Education.

"Our 10-acre site will be expanded to incorporate the new school for ages five to eleven. Our aim is to offer an outstanding education to pupils from a young age, giving the best possible start in life and supporting them with a smooth transition into secondary school."

School Principal, Dame Sally Coates says: " I am really excited that we will become an all through school and eventually have pupils from Year 1 to Year 13.

“A primary school will enable us to further develop our sense of community and we will ensure that standards in all key stages of education aim high so that pupils have the best possible chance of success.”

Burlington Danes Primary Academy looks likely to open in September of next year, with the funds for buildings coming directly from government. There is also the opportunity for the new school to share some of our current facilities, including catering, playing fields and specialised teaching.

Senior Vice Principal Michael Ribton adds that common monitoring, tracking and evaluation processes across the schools will be key to providing pupils with increased opportunities to succeed academically.

He says: " The huge advantage of having our own primary within the ARK family of schools is being able to lead on standards at a really early, formative stage – putting pupils at the heart of the school system."

The school says it will provide regular updates on the primary on its website.

Burlington Danes was among 102 new free school applications approved last month by Education Secretary Michael Gove.

Hammersmith and Fulham Council had already announced in January that as part of £33 million being invested in local schools in the Schools of Choice capital programme, Burlington Danes Academy is receiving £4.5 million to create the new primary school.

Burlington Danes is part of the ARK Academy Group which operates 13 schools across London, including neighbouring primaries ARK Bentwood and ARK Conway.

The group describes itself as " a network of high-achieving, non-selective schools and one of the country’s top-performing academy groups."

June 7, 2013