Pix Brook: A joint statement from Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedfordshire Schools Trust (BEST)
A new free school, Pix Brook Academy, will be built in Stotfold. Free schools are funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and run by academies or multi-academy trusts. As the local authority, Central Bedfordshire Council has responsibility for ensuring there are enough school places for pupils.
The funding from the Department for Education to build the school is now in place. Building a new free school is complex and there are many hurdles to overcome before the final funding agreement is signed off. We're working together with the DfE to open the school for September 2019 on the Etonbury site.
We've been in close contact with the Department for Education and have been assured that everything is currently on track for the opening of the new Pix Brook Academy building in 2020.
Clearly, it is disappointing that the school will not be ready as anticipated in 2019. However, we've been working together and have a plan in place to ensure Pix Brook can still open in 2019.
From the start of the 2019 academic year and until the new school building is complete, Pix Brook Academy pupils will be taught in a building that will be on the grounds of Etonbury Academy.
This will not be a portacabin but a brand new, purpose built, permanent building. The artist's impressions below give some idea of what will be provided.
This building, although on the Etonbury site, will be completely separate from Etonbury. It will only be used by Pix Brook staff and pupils. There will be car parking, a cycle store, play areas and a sports field.
Once the Pix Brook school facility opens in 2020, this building will be transferred to Etonbury Academy to use.
We've written to all parents in the area explaining the admission arrangements for Pix Brook.
If you have any queries about this, please contact our admissions team:
Telephone: 0300 300 8037
Email: admissions@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk
We would like to reassure parents that no child will be without an appropriate local school place in 2019. We are not anticipating that any child will need to attend a school in another town.
Plans for Pix Brook
Download plans and elevations as proposed for Pix Brook Academy (PDF 6.2MB) 