PLANS to create a free school on the site of Bath Road swimming pool have been revealed by Active Luton.
Active Luton, the trust that runs sport services on behalf of Luton Borough Council, says the new venture would be a four-form entry school with 120 places in each year group.
Named River Bank Primary, it would have a traditional staffing structure and would offer a “broad balanced curriculum with a strong emphasis on physical activity, health and wellbeing”.
Speaking exclusively to the Luton News this week, Active Luton chief executive Helen Barnett said the idea for the free school had come from the extensive education programme already run by the trust with schools across Luton, and the urgent need for extra primary school places.
“Four years ago we did a huge amount of work with Foxdell Junior School to see how PE and sport could improve academic standards,” she said.
“Behaviour, attendance and SATS results improved, and when the latest government came in and introduced the concept of free schools it was very interesting.
“Luton is increasingly short of primary school places and we thought ‘This is something we could be involved in.’”
Ms Barnett said Active Luton found that demand for school places was highest in the Biscot ward, and that this was also an area where health inequalities and issues such as obesity meant life expectancy was lower.
Active Luton also has the swimming pool site, which closes on May 20, at its disposal, and Ms Barnett said it seemed that “all the pieces were slotting together”, adding: “We are confident that we can make a difference.”
The school will initially open with just the reception year group, and then add a further year group each year.
For Active Luton’s application to the government to be successful, it must show that it could fill at least half of the school’s places in the first two years, and parents with children aged two or three in the area are currently being asked to register their interest.
To do so, or for more information, visit www.activeluton.co.uk or telephone 01582 400272.