St Michael’s Catholic School in Daws Hill Lane, High Wycombe has announced plans to create a satellite on the site of the former Quarrendon School in Weedon Road, Aylesbury.

Opening in September 2018 with a Year 7 intake of 120, the satellite school would cater for students between 11 and 19. Initially the new satellite school will have four forms of entry and grow over time to six forms of entry.

The satellite school proposal comes in the form of a partnership between Buckinghamshire County Council, St Michael’s governors and trustees, and the Diocese of Northampton.

The consultation with parents and the local community will run until Friday 28th April 2017. Two public presentations will be held as follows :

• Monday 27th February 2017 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at St Edward’s Catholic Junior School, Aylesbury.
• Tuesday 28th February 2017 from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at St Michael’s Catholic School, High Wycombe.

The satellite proposal comes in the light of the predicted rise in the number of school-age children across the county. In the next 20 years more than 45,000 new homes are planned and Buckinghamshire County Council has a statutory duty to ensure there are enough school places.

The headteacher at St Michael’s, Garret Fay, together with the governors of St Michael’s would have overall responsibility for the satellite site and local governors would be sought to support the multi-site school’s governance.

All Aylesbury school Heads have been sent consultation letters with a request to forward to parents. Neighbouring residents are also being consulted.

When the consultation closes the school partners will decide whether to move to the next stage and publish a statutory notice outlining the proposals and triggering a four’week public representation.

Zahir Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Buckinghamshire County Council, said: ‘This is an important consultation and I hope people will take the time to respond, as their views are of great significance‘.