Valerie Vaz, the Labour Member of Parliament for Walsall and Bloxwich, has voiced strong criticism of the Windsor Academy Trust regarding plans for a new £50 million free school at Reedswood Park. The proposed 1,000-place secondary school is slated to replace 13.7 acres of woodland, a move that has attracted significant local opposition.
In an open letter responding to the trust’s statutory consultation, Ms Vaz argued that the project no longer fulfils the core reasons initially given for its development and questioned its value as a use of public funds. She expressed concern about what she described as a “complete disregard and disrespect” for local residents living near the proposed site.
The MP also highlighted the inadequacy of the consultation process, noting that the trust recently cancelled an in-person Section 10 Consultation session at short notice, opting instead for an online meeting. Ms Vaz challenged the trust’s claim that this change would reach a wider audience, pointing out that only 300 households within two mail drops received information and questioning engagement with residents of the Blakenall area, which the school is intended to serve.
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She stated: “The consultation is woefully insufficient for a project of this scale, which is projected to cost £50 million of taxpayers’ money, plus an additional £1 million from Walsall Council.”
In response, a spokesperson for Windsor Academy Trust asserted their commitment to working closely with families and the broader community as plans evolve. They emphasised their role in education provision, including responsibility for the school’s educational vision, admissions policy, and management, while clarifying that site selection, capital investment, planning, and construction are overseen by the Department for Education. Walsall Council manages pupil-place planning and planning permission applications.
Addressing the concerns about pupil demand, the trust referenced Walsall Council’s pupil place-planning forecasts indicating a shortfall in Year 7 places each year through to 2030, citing specific deficits in 2027 and 2028. This counters Ms Vaz’s referencing of council data showing a surplus of school places until September 2030.
The trust stated their consultation was “fully open and accessible” over six weeks with various engagement activities. While in-person events are not statutory requirements, the trust said one event was moved online to accommodate all viewpoints following planned public gatherings outside the venue.
Regarding admissions, the trust confirmed the policy complies fully with the School Admissions Code 2021, with no reserved places for feeder or trust primary schools. Should the school be oversubscribed, places will be allocated strictly based on geographic proximity, including considerations for Pupil Premium allocations.
The trust expressed its commitment to the school becoming a valued part of the local community and noted ongoing engagement efforts, including a Department for Education-led consultation event held in March where senior trust leaders met local residents. They also extended an invitation to Ms Vaz to meet and discuss the project in person, a gesture warmly reiterated in their response.
The controversy highlights the tensions between the development of new school infrastructure and community concerns over environmental impact and consultation adequacy in Walsall.