Plans for a new school in Blackheath that were dubbed “dull and uninspiring” are back on the table.

Councillors pushed back making a decision on the proposed Leigh Academy in Old Dover Road at a meeting earlier this month.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency plans to demolish buildings, formerly used by Blackheath Bluecoats before its closure in 2014, and build a new school with a capacity of 1,150 pupils – 20 per cent more than the old school.

Concerns were raised that there was not enough outdoor space included in the scheme, and that the demand for school places was not there.

Speaking at the meeting, ward councillor Christine Grice said: “Residents remember what the school was like, behaviour outside the school was an issue. The main issue is that with a 20 per cent increase in capacity, things need to be robust to make sure it operates efficiently.

“This proposal lacks a long-term perspective. It’s a very dull, uninspiring, architecturally boring building. With the increase in capacity, an innovative school that is well designed could enable that to happen, but this design just doesn’t do it. It’s very uninspiring.

“The response that it is meant to have a grown-up feel to it – well, it doesn’t have to look like two boxes stuck together to be grown-up.”

Following a site visit, a revised scheme is set to be approved at a meeting on Tuesday, November 6. 

According to a new report, the proposed school is not bigger than Blackheath Bluecoats – the latter was just unpopular. 

“As the school was unpopular with parents, Blackheath Bluecoats operated below capacity for a number of years before closing on a phased basis.

“Had this been a popular school, it would have accommodated a very similar number of pupils and staff as currently proposed for Leigh Academy Blackheath”, the report explains.

Officers said if the new school was not opened, the council risked not being able to offer school places for every child.

“If Leigh Academy Blackheath was unable to continue operating, there would be insufficient capacity to accommodate all of the pupils elsewhere within the borough and their education would be severely disrupted.

“In those circumstances, the council would be likely to be in breach of its statutory duty to provide a school place for every child that needs one.”

The developer has moved a substation and changed parking arrangements to appease neighbours concerned about the school’s impact, according to the report.

“There is a clear and justified need for a new secondary school in order for the Royal Borough to fulfil its statutory functions as a provider of educational services.

“Amended plans have been received in order to improve the relationship with the surrounding residential occupiers.

“Officers consider that the movement of the buildings away from the neighbouring boundaries, coupled with the amendments to the parking layout and substation location would result in the development having an improved relationship with neighbouring occupants. ”

The site is currently home to St Mary Magdalene School, which is set to move to its permanent home on Greenwich Peninsula in November.

The Leigh Academy opened in September 2018, starting at Victoria House in Shooters Hill while plans for the Old Dover Road site are finalised.