New primary school confirmed for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Hackney’s new neighbourhood, East Wick, took a major step forward as its first new school was confirmed - to be run by the hugely successful Mossbourne Community Academy.
The school is set to open in 2015, and is one of three planned as part of the development of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Hackney Council recognised the need for a school in the new neighbourhood and worked with the London Legacy Development Corporation to secure funding from the Department for Education.
Proposals were invited from interested organisations, and the DfE announced today (12 December) that Mossbourne has been selected to run the school.
We are delighted that such a strong provider has been appointed and look forward to working with Mossbourne to set up another successful Hackney primary school. There is already pressure on school places in Hackney, so it's good news this school has been given the go-ahead in a place where lots of families will soon be settling, and great to see another key element of the borough's Olympic legacy taking shape.
Mossbourne Academy is also set to open a second secondary school, Mossbourne Victoria Park, next September.
Peter Hughes, Principal at Mossbourne Community Academy, said: “Mossbourne is very excited to be opening up a new primary school in partnership with Hackney Council and the London Legacy Development Corporation. We are pleased to support the expansion of primary education in Hackney with the building of this new school. This will be a fantastic opportunity to provide an all-inclusive education for Hackney children.”
East Wick is one of five new neighbourhoods planned as part of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, with a mix of homes, commercial uses and local amenities. Neighbouring the established community in Hackney Wick, the East Wick neighbourhood will include a significant proportion of family housing, and benefit from generous public spaces, the Copper Box Arena and the employment hub of iCITY
Dennis Hone, Chief Executive, London Legacy Development Corporation, said: “We are delighted that this school will open on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park three years earlier than planned and it will play a key role in establishing the new neighbourhoods. It is a vital part of building mixed, balanced and long term communities that will bring the Park to life.”
Ninety-nine per cent of pupils in Hackney attend a secondary school judged good or better, for primary schools the figure is 85%