We are seeking your views on our plans to open a new provision at Walnut Tree Way Colchester, which if approved will be newly built as an additional satellite-site to our current school, North East Essex Co-operative Academy (NEECA) at Turner Road, Colchester.  

 

These proposals have been developed in partnership with Essex County Council in order to address the condition and lack of suitable space and facilities we currently have at our school building in Turner Road.  Essex County Council has indicated that they may also seek to increase the number of commissioned places at NEECA to 170, following the opening of this proposed new-build.

 

NEECA, part of Keys Co-operative Academy Trust, is an all-through Alternative Provision Academy currently offering 152 places for primary and secondary aged pupils in the Colchester and Tendring areas.  Our existing site at Turner Road has a maximum capacity of approximately just 70 pupils, which means as a consequence of overcrowding many of our pupils are required to be taught away from the school premises for part of their weekly timetable.  The proposed new site at Walnut Tree Way will be built to accommodate between 80-90 pupils, therefore between the two sites, NEECA will have the capacity for all pupils to be offered a full timetable on site if appropriate.

 

This consultation is an opportunity to express your views and ask questions on the proposal and your contributions will help inform our decisions and will reflect within our subsequent application to the Department for Education. 

 

The consultation period will run for 4 weeks, starting on 13th August 2021 and closing on 10th September 2021. 
 

The final decision as to whether the proposal will proceed will be made by the Regional Schools Commissioner on behalf of the Department for Education following the submission of a Significant Change Application by the Trust.

 

This consultation letter is being sent electronically to all parents/guardians, trustees, local governors, relevant officers of Essex County Council, unions, teachers and support staff who are part of the NEECA community.  Hard copies will also be sent to headteachers of the neighbouring schools within a 1 mile radius of the proposed site, ward councillors and the local MP.

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The simplest way to provide feedback is to complete our short form:

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https://forms.gle/k6VW23aLqdz8zijk8

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