Government rejects Knebworth school proposals

PROPOSALS by a campaign group to build a new secondary school in Times Territory have been rejected by the Department for Education.

Controversial plans by the We Need A School (WNAS) campaign to build a school for 800 children living in Knebworth, Woolmer Green and the surrounding villages of Datchworth, Oaklands, Digswell, Codicote and Welwyn, were turned down by the Government last week.

The group had been invited to submit a business plan under the Government’s Free School programme by education secretary Michael Gove back in January.

But the DfE rejected the WNAS’ plan on the grounds that it could not find a suitable brownfield site for the school.

WNAS spokesman Andrew Payne said the campaign was now in “suspended animation”.

“We don’t have a site, and unfortunately that means no site, no school,” he said.

“Obviously we are disappointed that the business case has not been given approval to proceed and know that many local parents will share this disappointment.

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported our campaign up to now and especially the many people who have rolled up their sleeves to help.

“We are also grateful to members of the press for helping us to keep people informed about our plans.”