Valerie Vaz, the Labour MP for Walsall and Bloxwich, has publicly condemned the Windsor Academy Trust over its handling of the consultation for a proposed £50 million free school at Reedswood Park. In an open letter, she described the consultation process as 'woefully inadequate' and accused the trust of showing 'complete disregard and disrespect for local residents'.
The proposed Windsor Apollo Academy, a 1000-place secondary school, is set to replace 13.7 acres of woodland at Reedswood Park. Despite significant local opposition, the Department for Education (DfE), under the Labour government, continues to advance the project.
MP's Concerns Over Consultation and Costs
Ms Vaz argued that the school no longer meets any of the 'fundamental' reasons originally cited for its development. She questioned the trust's decision to cancel an in-person Section 10 consultation at short notice and move it online, calling the explanation that it was 'helpful to get a wider range of views' erroneous.
She also highlighted the limited reach of the consultation, noting that information was delivered to only 300 households, while thousands live within three-quarters of a mile of the site. She asked, 'What about the households in Blakenall that this free school is supposed to be serving?' The MP emphasized that the consultation is insufficient for a project costing £50 million of taxpayer money plus an additional £1 million from Walsall Council.
Trust Defends Its Position
In response, a spokesperson for Windsor Academy Trust said it was 'committed to working closely with families and the wider community as plans develop'. The trust also disputed Ms Vaz's claim of a surplus of school places, citing Walsall Council's latest pupil place-planning forecasts that show a shortfall in Year 7 places every year up to 2030, including deficits of 168 places in 2027 and 197 places in 2028.
The trust clarified its role in the project, stating it is 'solely responsible for the educational vision, the proposed admissions policy and – if planning permission is granted – the running of the new school', while site selection, capital investment, planning, and building are the DfE's responsibility, and Walsall Council handles pupil-place planning and determining the planning application.
Consultation and Admissions Details
Windsor Academy Trust maintained that its Section 10 consultation was 'fully open and accessible across a six-week period, featuring a wide range of engagement activities'. It noted that while in-person events are not statutory, one event was moved online after a planned public gathering outside the venue was confirmed.
The trust also addressed admissions, stating that Windsor Apollo Academy will operate a policy fully compliant with the School Admissions Code 2021, with zero places reserved for feeder or Trust primary schools. If oversubscribed, places, including Pupil Premium allocations, will be determined strictly by geographic proximity.
Senior trust leaders met with residents at a DfE-led consultation event in March, and the trust has invited Ms Vaz to meet in person, with the invitation remaining open. The trust said it is committed to ensuring the school becomes 'a valued and lasting part of the local community'.
