Your say on French school

A consultation on ground-breaking plans for a bilingual primary school in Hammersmith & Fulham has begun.

People are being asked what they think about plans for Holy Cross Roman Catholic Primary School, which has signed up to take part in the project between its trustee, the Diocese of Westminster, and H&F Council to form a partnership with French school the Ecole de Fulham.

Pupils aged four to 11 from both Holy Cross and the ecole would be taught together by teachers from each of the schools, using an agreed common curriculum. The first intake of bilingual pupils is expected to be in 2010.

Applications for the new bilingual places would be determined without reference to a pupil’s religious background, and would follow similar oversubscription criteria to those used for community primary schools in the borough. Holy Cross will continue to set its own admissions policies to ensure that places are provided for local Catholic children. Children wishing to go to Holy Cross and not take up a bilingual place would still have to meet the school’s current criteria.

Holy Cross is also planning to double its Roman Catholic provision and to move into new accommodation in 2012 subject to Government approval of a large primary capital bid supporting a number of schools.

Councillor Antony Lillis, cabinet member for community and children’s services, said: “It’s a win-win proposal and I am looking forward to a long-running and fruitful partnership with our French counterparts. We are very keen to offer local parents new school choices.”

Bishop George Stack, Chairman of the Diocesan Education Commission, said: “This proposal allows the Catholic community to make an innovative contribution to education in Hammersmith and Fulham. It will build on the values of care and excellence which lie at the heart of Holy Cross School's Catholic ethos.”

A very high number of families in H&F choose private education or schools outside the borough, rather than local state schools. This is a trend H&F Council wants to reverse by offering local families new and innovative state school choices.

The consultation ends on May 1.

» Go to the online consultation (opens new window)