Lancing's Boundstone School's £24m makeover

Boundstone '“ along with King's Manor Community College, in Shoreham, and Littlehampton Community School '“ could become an independent academy after outline proposals were approved by the government.

The academies will be sponsored by Woodard Schools '“ part of the Woodard Corporation '“ a charitable organisation which also runs nearby Lancing College.

Boundstone head teacher Richard Evea told the Herald: "I am very happy that the Woodard Corporation are the principal sponsors, primarily because they are educationalists.

"It is not an entrepreneur or business person buying the school '“ these are genuine educationalists."

Mr Evea said some people had been sceptical of the corporation's Christian values, but added this should not put them off a project which could improve children's life chances.

He said: "All the dealings I have had with each of the people who have represented the Woodard Corporation suggest they have nothing but the best interests of young people and the community at the heart of what they are doing."

Mr Evea said he hoped the project would lead to more opportunities for pupils leaving the school, with vocational courses taught alongside current core subjects, including maths, in which it is hoped Boundstone will specialise.

Work to build a new school on the Boundstone site is expected to cost 24million, with the three schools set to each share a further 7million, to be spent on information computer technology (ICT) equipment.

Work is hoped to be completed by 2013.

The project will now move into a "feasibility phase", with further, more detailed plans being prepared before final agreements are secured for each academy '“ a process which will involve consultation with parents, other local schools and the community.

A more immediate change coming to Boundstone is the 425 extra pupils, who will start year seven there following the change to the age of transfer from Adur middle schools, in September, 2008.

Mr Evea said there were concerns among current year six children that they would miss out, adding Boundstone was concentrating on making sure that would not be the case.

"Our commitment is to making year seven as exciting here as it would have been at their middle schools," said Mr Evea.