THE new school at the former Alderman Blaxill site in Colchester will be “rebranded” to distance it its previous struggles.

Four options for the site, in Paxman Avenue, were presented to residents at an information evening.

The site is set to be demolished next summer and construction work should start in January 2018 with the new school opening in September 2019.

A name has not yet been chosen for the school, but Essex County Council officials at the meeting strongly hinted it would not be called Alderman Blaxill.

The secondary school opened in 1955 and fought off two closure attempts, in the Nineties and in 2008, before finally closing in 2014 due to falling pupil numbers.

Residents and councillors have campaigned for a school at the site ever since.

Annesley Hardy, who taught there during the Seventies, said the council would need to establish the fact it is not a “low end” school.

Claire Kershaw, director of education and lifelong learning at at Essex County Council, said it intends to rebrand the school and “reinvigorate the future rather than connect with the past”.

Ray Gooding, county councillor responsible for education, said: “We have a real chance to do something innovative and by doing so any negative connotations get swept aside.”

Pauline Hazell, Conservative borough councillor for Shrub End, said: “I’m a traditionalist so for me Alderman Blaxill is a historic name which means a lot.

"I was quite surprised when a long-standing resident here mentioned the need for rebranding.

“But what nobody can deny is we absolutely need this school and we told the county council this very loudly five years ago.

“I’m quietly confident it will provide a good school on an ideal site.”

Gazette:

It could become the first primary and secondary school on the one site in Essex.

The first option is for an “all-through” school would accommodate 420 primary school pupils and 600 secondary school students with an added early years block for 56 children.

The second option would have a larger secondary school with a sixth form, and an all-weather pitch.

The third option is for a secondary school and sixth form, but no primary school.

The fourth option is for a secondary school with a primary pupil referral unit for up to 30.

The pupil referral unit would have its own site next to the main school and its own entrance.

There is also potential for a three storey block of key worker housing for teachers.

Gazette:

Ms Kershaw said there is a shortage of secondary school places.

She said: “Our priority is secondary school provision.

“A primary pupil referral unit is needed as there’s some children for which mainstream provision can’t meet their needs and a very bespoke unit would add value to the educational offer.”

Lyn Barton, Lib Dem councillor for Shrub End, said: “I’m really delighted with the outcome because councillor Karen Chaplin and I set up a petition as we wanted the school used for community and education.

“After years of uncertainty about the school’s future, and scaremongering it might be used for housing, we now have a permanent solution.

“The options are exciting.”

But the costs of these options have yet to be finalised.

If the new school is not a free school, it is likely funding would be a combination of government grants and council funding.

Mr Gooding said about £360 million will be spent on creating school places across the county in the the next three years.