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The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

for these schools in future years. The Redditch District Plan of 1980 identified plans by
the County to expand the Abbey by 100 places and Bridley Moor by 200 places with
the over capacity at Arrow Vale in the mid 1980’s being dealt with by temporary
accommodation. The situation at St. Augustine’s was different as it drew its pupils from
the Catholic schools in Redditch.
The situation was alleviated by the School agreeing to offer 90 non-denominational
places each year to pupils transferring from the Ridgeway Middle School. The early to
mid-1980s seems to have seen all the High Schools working at full capacity with the
situation gradually improving in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This situation was
repeated in many of the Middle Schools through the 1980s although some would only
be half full by 1988.

The Educational Review of the 1990s

By the mid-1990s concern was growing about the number of surplus places in the
school system as a result of falling pupil numbers. In May 1998 Worcestershire County
Council published a public consultation document entitled A Brighter Future for Redditch.
The review of educational provision was necessary for these reasons:
● The need to use limited resources effectively;

Kingsley College, formerly the Leys High School, has a active Leisure centre making the
principle of Dual Use a reality.

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