Educational charity chosen to run city’s two new primary schools

Oasis Community Learning has been selected by the Department of Education to run the new schools in the Firvale and Shirecliffe areas.

Coun Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children, young people and families said: “It is essential that all children have access to a great school.

“I’m looking forward to working with the Oasis team to ensure they deliver this to the children and families in our two new schools and that they develop strong links with the local communities they will serve.”

The two new schools are designed to cope with increased demand as the birth rate increases in Sheffield in line with national trends.

Births increased from 5,549 in 2001/2 to 6,602 in 2009/10.

The city has already significantly expanded its primary school provision with more than 2,500 places added in the last five years.

It first announced plans to build the new schools last year in a move councillors hope will give parents in the city more choice.

Each school will have two classes in each year group.

One will be built on Skinnerthorpe Road with the second due to be constructed on the former Watermead school site.

Oasis Community Learning will now work with Sheffield City Council to develop the final plans for the two schools which are due to open in September next year.

Two years ago, the Government introduced new rules which mean that when a council decides it needs additional schools they should be developed as either academies or free schools which are a model of school which are funded by the Government but operated outside of local authority control.

Oasis Community Learning fought off competition from Bright Tribe & The HBH Trust and the Erudition Schools Trust.

The Southey Green, Shirecliffe, Longley, Burngreave, Fir Vale, and Firth Park areas have been identified by the council as having the greatest need for new schools.

These areas are currently served by 15 primary schools offering around 1,000 places but demand is expected to outstrip supply in the year’s ahead without the two new schools.

Extra demands on local schools is expected from plans to build 800 new homes.