A NEW secondary school is proposed for Hillingdon to meet an increasing demand for school places. Those behind the proposed ‘Gates Academy’ hope to have it open by September 2017 and are working with the Education Funding Agency to identify the best site. A number of locations north of the A40 are being considered for the free school. The plan is to have 120 in each year group, making a total of 840 pupils when the school reaches full capacity. Kishan Devani, the lead proposer and co-founder of Gates Academy, said: “We will ensure an outstanding broad and balanced curriculum for our learners, in which they will be able to discover and explore their talents and creativity in depth, so they can excel academically. “Global citizenship and British values will also be an essential element to our curriculum and reflect the diversity of the area both locally and internationally.” The academy would focus on global citizenship, academia, the arts, enterprise and sports. Co-founder Simon Winters OBE added: “A key focus on creating a 21st century environment through innovative use of technology and teaching of enterprise will ensure our learners are well prepared for the digital future.” He said Gates would offer a curriculum that includes subjects tailored to pupils’ lives and provide an extended school day for all pupils with extracurricular activities, innovative teaching and use of modern technology. Councillor David Simmonds, cabinet minister for Education and Children’s Services, said: “Hillingdon Council has an excellent track record of ensuring every child in the borough has access to a quality school place as close to home as possible. “The delivery of our primary school expansion programme has been one of the largest and most successful programmes of its kind in London. “As the demand for school places will continue to grow and move into secondary schools we are actively looking at all options to ensure every child of secondary school age has access to a school place and we welcome providers who can bring new opportunities for Hillingdon’s children.” All interested parents, especially those with children in years four and five, are asked to register their interest at www.gatesacademy.org to show evidence of local demand for the school’s application to the Department for Education. Parents can also join the school’s online community at facebook.com/gatesacademyhillingdon