Camden Academy decision-making process approved
13 February 2009
UCL today welcomes the High Court finding that the decision-making and consultation process undertaken by Camden Council regarding the proposed UCL-sponsored Academy school in Camden was lawful and in line with statute and government guidance, involving wide and appropriate consultation with residents, schools and other stakeholders.
The ruling opens the way for UCL to forge ahead with developing plans for a new Academy school in Camden sponsored by the university. The UCL-sponsored Academy will provide 900 new and much-needed school places for 11-16 year olds plus an extra 250 sixth-form places.
Professor Michael Worton, UCL Vice-Provost (Academic & International), said: "We are very pleased by the clear judgments handed down by the High Court. Our aim is, and always has been, to contribute to secondary education in Camden by sponsoring an Academy that will offer young people the best possible education in science, maths and foreign languages, whatever their ability and aptitude.
"We are grateful that Camden Council shares this vision. Now that the judge has so clearly ruled, we shall continue with our partnership working and look forward to opening the Academy in 2011."
UCL is an outstanding world-class university, attracting staff and students from across the globe. From the time of its foundation in 1826 it has been dedicated to providing opportunity for all. It was the first university in England to admit students without any religious test and without regard to race, faith, class or gender.
That ethos underpins everything we do to this day. Our commitment to the full development of human potential is global in its reach, but also local in its focus. We have been closely involved through our staff and students with education in Camden over many years, and we think that the Government's Academy model offers us a unique way of extending this.