Consultation launched on plans for a new Sixth Form Centre for Rainham’s young people.
Plans for a new Sixth Form Centre to provide post-16 educational opportunities for young people in Rainham has taken a major step forward. The new Sixth Form Centre at Harris Academy Rainham is being funded by the Department for Education to meet an identified need for post-16 places in the town. ISG Construction has been appointed to build the new Sixth Form Centre and is preparing to submit a planning application.
The new Sixth Form Centre will be built next to the school sports hall within the grounds of Harris Academy Rainham, on a site currently occupied by changing rooms and a disused former swimming pool. The existing drab and dated building will be replaced with a new building incorporating high quality architecture and materials, as well as enhanced landscaping and planting to improve the school’s frontage onto Wennington Road.
ISG and Harris Federation have launched a consultation website to provide local people with information about the planned Sixth Form and to provide an opportunity for people to comment on the plans and register for updates as the plans progress. The consultation website can be visited at www.harrisrainhamsixthform.com.
Gareth Stananought, Principal at Harris Academy Rainham said “The creation of a new Sixth Form Centre represents significant investment in post-16 education in Havering Borough, providing state-of-the-art learning facilities for 400 young people in Rainham and the surrounding area.
Following the devastating impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the education of young people, the new centre will deliver a transformational boost to learning provision in the Borough and to the life chances of young people locally.”
James Hole, Senior Design Manager at ISG added “We are delighted to be working with Harris Federation and the Department for Education to build fantastic new educational facilities to deliver a transformational boost to the life chances of young people in Rainham. Our architects have been working on exciting designs for the new Sixth Form Centre and we are very keen to hear the views of local residents, students and parents as we prepare to submit a planning application.”
ISG and Harris Federation intend on submitting a planning application for the new Sixth Form Centre in early spring. If approved, it is hoped that the new centre will be completed in the Autumn of 2022.
Harris Academy Federation are independent of the council, but the Education Department has indicated support for the Sixth Form to meet local need, albeit the catchment area will extend beyond Havering, attracting pupils from Harris Academy schools in Thurrock.
I have asked the Planning Department for an outline summary of the pros and cons of the scheme, that can be amended to secure improvements during consultation, but its unlikely they will oppose any scheme in principle if supported by Education Department.
The plans for a Sixth form at Chafford now Harris Academy has been long standing, but dependent on government funding, which is now available. This is one reason why the Chafford leisure centre and swimming pool were neglected, albeit it still should have remained open until the new one is built. An application is due to be submitted and will take about a year to build.
Local councillors welcome residents and parents views and will campaign to ensure, if a scheme is progressed, it has the infrastructure, parking, design, landscaping and conditions (continued community use of the sports hall) to benefit community and students alike.
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