Heyford Park Free School Go Ahead

Community thrilled as Heyford Park Free School gets go ahead

Parents and residents are celebrating the news that a Free School at Heyford Park has today (13 July) been given the green light by the Government.
One of only ten all-through selected nationwide, the co-educational Heyford Park Free School will provide 840 places for pupils aged between four and 19 by 2019, with the first year of intake starting in September 2013.

With a strong emphasis on personal development as well as educational attainment, each year will contain two forms of entry, kept to 60 pupils per year group. The school has set high academic goals but will have close links with the local business community, providing its young people with knowledge, skills, mentorship and vocational opportunities to support them in later life. It also plans to make modern history part of a broad curriculum in recognition of the area’s important military heritage.

The school was proposed by The Heyfordian School Trust, a charitable Trust consisting of parents, residents, local educational specialists, local businesses and the Dorchester Group, owners of Heyford Park. Members of the community wanted to see a primary and secondary school developed for the area as part of plans to regenerate the former RAF and US Air force site, and the free school plans received widespread backing.

Nathan Jones, Governor for The Heyfordian School Trust, said “We’re absolutely thrilled with the decision; it’s a fantastic step forward for the local area and an important milestone for Heyford Park.

“We would like to express our thanks to everyone involved for all their hard work. Our local parents and residents have worked tirelessly to provide support for the school and we are confident that we will be able to provide the local community with the choice and opportunity that they want and need for their children.”

Paul Silver, member of the Heyfordian School Trust and executive director of the Dorchester Group, said: “We are committed to helping provide community facilities as part of the development of Heyford Park. By responding to what local people want and supporting plans to develop a new Free School, we hope to deliver the full potential of Heyford Park. We are delighted that the proposal has been granted and are looking forward to rolling up our sleeves to help bring this school to fruition”.

Councillor Melinda Tilley, Oxfordshire County Council Cabinet member for Education comments: “I congratulate all those who have backed the Heyford Park Free School. It is an exciting step in the generation of new school places in Oxfordshire and a unique achievement for local parents. The Heyford Park Free school is well located and has great potential to offer parents and children a personalised, community focussed approach to education.”

One local parent, Pam Cameron, said: “This is brilliant news, and we’re delighted the school has been given the go-ahead. The all-through education will offer local children the continuity between primary and secondary which many don’t have in this area, and the unique level of active parental involvement means we have a central role in shaping our children’s education. We can’t wait to see it open.”
Based at Heyford Park, Europe’s largest and best preserved American airfield, the school will be housed in the Grade II listed former American Officers’ Mess building. Renovation work on the building and existing sports facilities will begin at the earliest possible opportunity.

The Heyfordian School Trust will hold an open day later this month for parents interested in learning more about the Free School. The date will be announced in the coming weeks.

Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow.

“Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow. We’ve got a great location, excellent business networks and access to high quality investment opportunities.”

2016-09-24T12:44:28+01:00

“Bicester is becoming a hot bed for new and existing businesses that want to grow. We’ve got a great location, excellent business networks and access to high quality investment opportunities.”

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/bicester-is-becoming-a-hot-bed-for-new-and-existing-businesses-that-want-to-grow/

Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military

"Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military to both understand and contribute towards the development and Bicester Town"

2016-12-06T14:46:03+00:00

"Membership of Bicester Vision has provided the best possible conduit for the military to both understand and contribute towards the development and Bicester Town"

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/membership-bicester-vision-provided-best-possible-conduit-military/

Being a member enables us to build a close understanding of the needs of local businesses

“Chiltern Railways provides fast, frequent train services from Bicester North station and the newly opened Bicester Village station to London, Birmingham, Oxford and key locations in between. Being a member of Bicester Vision enables us to build a close understanding of the needs of local businesses and helps us to shape our future growth strategy.”

Stephen Barker, Chiltern Railways

2016-12-07T09:04:34+00:00

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/member-enables-us-build-close-understanding-needs-local-businesses/

We have a profound interest in the progress of the Town

“The Bicester Chamber of Commerce and Bicester Vision have a profound interest in the progress of the Town and understand that in some circumstances the continual increase in the numbers of houses and businesses will cause disquiet, to individuals and existing business alike. Change is always with us, and both the “Chamber” and “Vision” endeavour to keep the standards from the past while facing, and working, with the challenges of the future.”

Peter Cox, Chairman of Bicester Chamber

2016-12-07T09:07:17+00:00

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/bicester-chamber-commerce-bicester-vision-profound-interest-progress-town/

The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation

"The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation and this supports a key commitment within our Local Plan to deliver employment in line with housing. As a designated Garden Town, Bicester is expanding at the pace so it is essential to attract the inward investment and businesses who will be vital to this success. Through our membership with Bicester Vision, we can work with partners and existing businesses to access to additional channels, resources and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our goal as a district of opportunity and employment."

Karen Curtin, Commercial Director (Bicester) , Cherwell District Council

2016-12-07T09:10:34+00:00

"The primary objective for Bicester Vision is to provide opportunities for job creation and this supports a key commitment within our Local Plan to deliver employment in line with housing. As a designated Garden Town, Bicester is expanding at the pace so it is essential to attract the inward investment and businesses who will be vital to this success. Through our membership with Bicester Vision, we can work with partners and existing businesses to access to additional channels, resources and innovative ideas to help us to achieve our goal as a district of opportunity and employment."Karen Curtin, Commercial Director (Bicester) , Cherwell District Council

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/primary-objective-bicester-vision-provide-opportunities-job-creation/

The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester

"The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester. Essential to that is the close working across all tiers of government and the private sector to enable all Bicester businesses to prosper and create job opportunities for the community. The Council has been a founding member and has seen the work of the partnership play an active role in shaping a flourishing Bicester."

Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager , Oxfordshire County Council

2016-12-07T09:30:32+00:00

"The County Council is a key partner in delivering infrastructure for housing and employment growth in Bicester. Essential to that is the close working across all tiers of government and the private sector to enable all Bicester businesses to prosper and create job opportunities for the community. The Council has been a founding member and has seen the work of the partnership play an active role in shaping a flourishing Bicester."Lisa Michelson, Locality Manager , Oxfordshire County Council

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/county-council-key-partner-delivering-infrastructure-housing-employment-growth-bicester/

Bicester Town Council has been part of Bicester Vision since its inception

"Bicester Town Council has been part of Bicester Vision since its inception and are pleased to be able to work alongside the business community and all tiers of local government to make Bicester the ‘go to’ place for business opportunity."

Sue Mackrell, Bicester Town Council

2016-12-07T09:44:43+00:00

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/bicester-town-council-part-bicester-vision-since-inception/

Through our work with Bicester Vision we are able identify the development needs of the town

“Ziran Land and its predecessor Stockdale Land has found that working closely with the business community of Bicester has enabled us to successfully develop Pioneer Square Shopping Centre and now to develop Franklin House, which was completed in 2016. The growth of Bicester enables us, through our work with Bicester Vision, to identify the business, retail and leisure development needs of the town and to work closely with the business community to provide these.”

John Liggins, Managing Director, Ziran Land Limited

2016-12-07T09:47:00+00:00

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Bicester Vision is an effective way for interested parties to collaborate

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Steve Thornton, Director UK Logistics & Supply Chain, BRITA UK

2016-12-07T09:49:31+00:00

"Bicester Vision is an effective way for interested parties to collaborate. We have recently worked with Lisa Rawlings at Banbury and Bicester College as being an industry partner for Bicester Technology studio school and supporting them on the curriculum, equipment specification, and funding. As well as facilitating other 3rd Party Logistics firms like DHL to be involved, Solar panel contact via the Low Carbon Hub to support on the building design for sustainable construction."Steve Thornton, Director UK Logistics & Supply Chain, BRITA UK

https://www.bicestervision.co.uk/testimonials/bicester-vision-effective-way-interested-parties-collaborate/