French school set to open at Peterborough

by Hammersmith and Fulham Press Office
15/07/2008

A French school for primary-age pupils is set to open in the borough next September.

Following on from the previously agreed closure of Fulham’s Peterborough Primary School,  this week the council has agreed to lease the site to the French Government to expand their offer and use the site for educational purposes. This is subject to the necessary consents.

Just over four per cent of children in the borough are from French families and many of these are currently travelling across the border to South Kensington and will now be able to attend this new venue.

In addition to this, the council is keen to use this partnership as a catalyst to offering local children bilingual places in the future.  The council plans to work in partnership with the French Government on the lines of the Ecole de Wix in Wandsworth.

“We are keen to offer local parents new school choices and we will be talking further to the French school about our using their expertise to offer bilingual schooling within our own state school system in the future”, says Councillor Antony Lillis, cabinet member for children’s services. 

“In the short term, leasing this site, when it becomes vacant, to another school rather than selling it commercially, makes sense. “It will help retain the current community atmosphere and makes good use of public resources.”