Proposed school move to Glenvale Park takes step forward

20 July 2023

Following the receipt of two completed ‘expressions of interest’ for the relocation of an existing school into a new primary school at Glenvale Park, a panel has now met to consider the applications and recommend a school to move into the new facilities from September 2024.

The panel reviewed and assessed both applications from Little Harrowden Primary School and Wilby C of E VA Primary School earlier this week. Both schools submitted strong applications and following a rigorous interview process, a recommendation has now been put forward that Wilby C of E VA Primary School go forward to the next stage.

A formal public consultation will now be launched at the beginning of September, with the outcome informing the North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive decision making process later in the year. If the recommendation is approved, it is anticipated that Wilby C of E School would move to the Glenvale Park development to coincide with the start of the 2024/25 school year.

Both applications we received were of a high standard and warmly received by the panel. After a long discussion and careful consideration, we have recommended that Wilby C of E Primary School move to the next stage and a public consultation will be launched in September so residents and parents can have their say on the recommendation.Cllr Scott Edwards, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Families, Education and Skills

It is great that we are moving forward and that the panel has put forward a recommendation. The decision is not final and now we need the views of the public to shape what happens next.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

The proposal to move an existing school to Glenvale Park was approved at Executive in June. Glenvale Park will provide an additional 3,000 new homes and in preparation for new families moving into the area, the school, which has been built by the developer Glenvale Park LLP, is due for completion this Autumn.

As the estate grows, primary aged children from the Glenvale Park development would be invited to apply for a school place as part of the normal admissions process.

However, with an appropriate number of primary school places currently available in Wellingborough, it is not envisaged that need will be sufficient to require the creation of additional school places for a number of years.  This means a new school would not attract DFE funding.  Therefore, local schools were asked to express an interest in relocating to the Glenvale site and expanding to meet future need as required.