AN INDEPENDENT secondary school is to open in Hounslow at the site of a former college for international students.
New London College, in Staines Road, is due to open as a secondary school in September, with 150 pupils, using the same name as its predecessor.
About 1,100 foreign students previously attended the centre but bosses decided on a change of direction after tough new rules designed to tackle illegal immigration were introduced.
College director Vikram Kolagatla claimed the extra red tape, introduced by the UK Border Agency last year, made life almost impossible for colleges catering for overseas students.
He said a new independent secondary school was needed in central Hounslow to cater for pupils from private primary schools in the area.
“There’s a shortage of supply (of private secondary schools) at the moment, with pupils having to travel from Hounslow to Twickenham, Ealing or Ashford,” he told the Chronicle.
“About 90 per cent of international colleges are closing because there are too many regulations, which means students aren’t coming to the UK. We already have the expertise in place so we decided to diversify into this (secondary school) market.”
Mr Kolagatla added that the school, which will be mixed sex, was already in discussions with nearby independent primary schools.
It will include a sixth form and will also offer higher national diplomas for students hoping to attend university.
The college, which has retained just eight out of 47 staff, plans to recruit teachers soon but has already appointed a head and deputy headteacher.
Philip Davis, who has more than 30 years’ educational experience, having worked mainly on training and apprenticeship projects, will be the headteacher.
Christine Cohen will give up her role as deputy head at Braintree College to assume the same role at New London.
For more information about New London College, visit www.newlondoncollege.co.uk or call 020 8570 7766.
