Parkfield School
20-22 Christchurch Road Bournemouth BH1 3NL
Email: office@parkfield.bournemouth.sch.uk Website: www.parkfieldschool.org Telephone: (01202) 208370 Principal: Mr T. Conaghan Dear Parents and Carers,
1st July 2016
We are now rapidly approaching the end of term and I hope you are looking forward to the summer break. There have been developments regarding our move to the new site at Hurn that we need to share with you. After a series of setbacks in the past the latest plan has been to move into temporary accommodation at the new site from this September until the site refurbishment has been completed. We had hoped that part or all of the Secondary facilities would be ready by October / November time and the Primary facilities a few months following. The new sports hall was intended to complete around April / May time. The process of sourcing a permanent site for the school and making it ready for the students and staff is the responsibility of the Education Funding Agency (EFA), part of the Department of Education (DFE). MACE are our project managers and KIER are the site developers. We have been advised by the EFA that due to delays within the planning department at Christchurch Council the required permission for our temporary buildings will not be granted in time for the start of the new term. After discussions with the School’s Senior Leadership Team, the Governors and within the EFA & DFE, I was advised on Wednesday 29th June that a decision had been made by Lord Nash (Under Secretary of State for Schools) for us to remain at Dorset House until the completion of the Hurn site. I know this will be a great disappointment to many of you and there will be lots of questions about this decision. The Senior Leadership Team, Governors and EFA would like to invite you to a meeting at the school to discuss this further. You are all invited to come to the school Tuesday 5 th of July from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. We are limited in capacity but hopefully we can accommodate everyone and there will be a summary of the evening made available to those unable to attend. May I request that wherever possible you do not bring any children with you to the meeting, simply because of capacity and we want to fit in as many of you as possible. We have many decisions ahead of us and your input would be very welcome. I am truly sorry about the latest events and apologise to those that will find this news distressing. The building works at the site are progressing well and I can’t wait for you all to see our new school once it’s finished. The end is in sight! I remain fully committed to delivering an outstanding school both now and once we are in our new home. Seeing the phenomenal achievements the students are making, particularly after last nights amazing Arts Festival, and knowing what an amazing job our staff do, I am positive Parkfield has a wonderful future ahead of it. Thank you for your support and I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday. Kind regards,
Matt Clarkson Chair of Governors, Parkfield School