As pressure on school places locally grows and the Coalition government makes it ever harder for Councils to directly open new schools, it’s great to see a new non-selective secondary school open serving the southern end of Brixton Hill.

City Heights E-ACT Academy is now open on Christchurch Road. It describes itself as ‘a non-denominational, non-selective school, welcoming girls and boys from all backgrounds from the local community.’ It opened last September with just 110 Year 7 students and has now taken in a second year-group in its permanent new site next to Fenstanton Primary School. It specialises in language skills, particularly Spanish, which will be welcome to the growing Latin American community in the area and their neighbours.

The school is taking part in Open House Weekend on 20 September so residents can have a look around. Tours must be pre-booked 10-12.30 – more details here.

Inevitably a new school with, eventually, 1,100 11-18 year olds will be the cause of some concern for local residents. The St Martin’s Estate TRA, which covers Challice Way in Brixton Hill ward as well as the rest of the estate in Tulse Hill, is organising a meeting where locals can raise any questions or issues with Jim Henderson of the school. The meeting will be on Tuesday 23rd September, 7:30pm, at the St Martin’s Community Centre, Abbots Park. Further details here.