Labour scraps plans for new secondary school

PLANS for a 1,050-pupil secondary school on the north coast have been scrapped by the government.

- BY LEE TREWHELA Local Democracy Reporter

Perranporth Academy, one of 21 free schools across the country announced by the former Conservative government, had been scheduled to open in September next year on a site between Liskey Hill and Bolingey Road and would have been run by the Truro and Penwith Academy Trust.

The Department for Education (DfE) previously said the new school would alleviate pressure on the four oversubscribed secondary schools Perranporth children currently attend: Richard Lander and Penair in Truro, and Tretherras and Treviglas in Newquay.

However, a spokesperson for the DfE said: “We have carefully considered all of the evidence and there is not sufficient need for additional places to justify building a whole new school.

“The Government is committed to making sure there are enough school places in Perranporth.”

The Labour MP for the town, Perran Moon, says he is “extremely disappointed” with the decision and will continue fighting for a new school in the area.