Durand puts in plans for temporary school buildings at Stedham

The Durand Academy has submitted new plans for temporary teaching and boarding accommodation at the former St Cuthman's School site near Stedham.

Separately in the school grounds the academy wants to build a two storey residential boarding house with for 48 students and two members of staff.

In their design and access statement Durand says: “This application relates to the Upper School provision. It is proposed that this will take the form of a new provision for 13 to 18-year-olds (Yrs 9, 10

& 11) at the St. Cuthman’s school site.

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“This project is to develop the site to provide new teaching and boarding accommodation for the Upper School, together with related site-wide infrastructure and improvement.

“After years of neglect the buildings are in need of a major revamp. This provides a unique opportunity to plan for the future of the school in a manner that is consistent with the long term objectives of the South Downs National Park and which understands and takes into account the needs and aspirations of the local communities.”

Durand said the need for temporary accommodation was to: “enable adequate time

within the overall programme to plan and implement a long term estate

development plan for the site.”

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The academy’s original application for 650 pupils was amended after strong objections in 2013 to 375 pupils and 65 staff.

It was refused by the national park in December 2013. Durand appealed in June 2014 but withdrew its appeal six months later. Costs were later awarded against the academy.

In the autumn of 2014 Durand opened a school on the Stedham site for 48 year 9 weekly boarders travelling down from London.

Last week it emerged the school was facing an uncertain future after the schools minister said there were ‘serious concerns’ over how the academy was governed.

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The Academy has been given until August 1 to answer a provisional notice of intention to terminate the funding agreement.

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