ALTRINCHAM RESIDENTS URGE TRAFFORD TO FUND NORTH CESTRIAN TO BUY LORETO PREP SCHOOL SITE

Parents of current North Cestrian Pupils and local primary school parents, along with Altrincham residents are urging Trafford or The Department of Education to fund North Cestrian to buy the site of Loreto Prep School to enable expansion.  A bigger site would provide more secondary school places for local children and desperately needed improvements to facilities.

Whilst conversations thus far have been very positive, no money has yet been offered and as of October 31st the site is now officially up for sale.

Independent Catholic Primary, Loreto Preparatory School, had been a school for 114 years, but recently closed due to ‘unprecedented financial challenges’ and declining pupil numbers.

There are not enough secondary school places in Altrincham for local children.  Trafford Council state on their website "High Schools in Altrincham are significantly oversubscribed, and each year some catchment area children do not get a place at their preferred school. Last year North Cestrian received over 1500 applications for just 165 places, and each year 60 families do not get a local school and have to travel across Trafford to be educated.

Mr Lee Bergin, Headmaster of NCS stated in a newsletter on October 8th 2023 "The Hamblin Trust who run North Cestrian is actively seeking funds to acquire the Loreto Prep site in order to expand North Cestrians pupil capacity."

If North Cestrian expands in to the neighboring Loreto Prep site, they would be able to offer an additional 60, 70 or more places per year group, building gradually over a number of years. The plan would be to operate over 2 sites to enable the school to retain its small feel, which many current families like.  It would also be able to offer improved SEN provision, which again is in desperate need across the borough.

In addition to much needed school places, the school would be able to offer more playground space and land to improve on-site sports pitches, car parking and better pupil access.  The current site is so small that the  school has to operate a one way system between lessons, to enable corridors to flow.  They also have to run two lunch sessions as the playground space is not big enough to accommodate all children at one time, making it very noisy for those learning whilst others play.  This year a portacabin has been brought in to provide an additional classroom as the school is currently above its intended capacity and does not have enough classrooms.

Many parents would love to see the school have a library for access to books and reading, and a quiet space at lunchtime.  It currently doesn't have one as all rooms are needed for teaching.  Many students would love to stay on for 6th form which again isn't possible. 

Bowdon Hockey club have expressed their interest to work in partnership with the school to give them access to a more pitch space and indoor hockey training space.  They are also looking for more indoor hockey training space.  This would develop a further income stream for the school in the future and enable the wider community to use the improved facilities.

The opportunities are endless for the site and there is a very viable school plan for the future. 

In order for housing to be put on the site, the site would have to go through a change of usage process, we believe this would take 2-3 years, the site would site empty for that time and deteriorate.  Why would any authority agree to this when the neighbouring school is desperate for development and Altrincham needs more local school places?  North Cestrian is the only non selective school in WA14.

The parents sharing this petition are concerned that the land will be sold for housing, which would be a travesty when there are already not enough school places for existing local families. If the Loreto site is not bought for North Cestrian’s expansion, the chance to expand will be lost forever.