Help make Colliers Wood a nodal point for the new Harris Wimbledon secondary school

Getting a good education really matters. It provides the foundation for so much in our lives and I want all local children to have access to schools that offer them the best chance of a bright, successful future. That’s why I’m delighted to report that a new secondary school is coming to our area.

Built as part of the High Path regeneration scheme, Harris Academy Wimbledon will be a co-educational school, open to both boys and girls. This is fantastic news and will offer local parents real choice when looking for a great school for their children. The new school will be operational on the High Path site (located in an area between the Sainsbury’s and South Wimbledon tube station) from September 2020, providing 180 places for pupils. Before then it will operate from a temporary home at Whatley Avenue near Wimbledon Chase, opening here from September 2018.

Harris has a superb reputation in Merton and across south London for running great schools. A measure of their success is that 85% of Harris sixth formers gain university offers, with places secured at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, King’s, Leeds and Bristol. In our borough they’ve turned around two struggling secondary schools and Harris Academy Wimbledon will be led by the same experienced team that has made such a success of Harris Academy Morden. I want local children to get the same chance as others of receiving the great school experience offered by Harris.

A key issue for the new school is admissions. Harris are putting forward a number of different proposals, each potentially affecting the amount of pupils who can attend from our local area, and are asking for our views. I think it is absolutely vital that local parents are able to have a say in this consultation 

If you can, please make a submission to the consultation, to help us make Colliers Wood a 'nodal point' for the school. Visit the consultation website here, read my submission below, and download a leaflet on the issue made by Colliers Wood parents below. 





Dear Sir / Madam,

I am writing as part of the consultation on the new Harris Academy Wimbledon, particularly with regard to nodal points. It is my belief that Colliers Wood should be a nodal point for the new school.

The demand for secondary school places in Colliers Wood is very great. There are no secondary schools in or around the area, and at the same time Singlegate Primary School’s Year 1 entry has expanded to ninety pupils.

Furthermore, the new school will be built right at the heart of the Colliers Wood community. In fact, Colliers Wood tube station is just a ten minute walk away from Merton Abbey.

I hope that you will bear these views in mind, and consider making Colliers Wood station a nodal point to secure access to the new school for local pupils.

The Harris Federation has an incredible reputation, and I am delighted that the school is coming to our community, offering parents of primary pupils real choice for a great education.

Yours sincerely,
Siobhain McDonagh