Poster launch for Ealing Fields Free School

Supporters of a new secondary school for South Ealing say 585 children could be without a place by 2016 unless action is taken now.

They're launching a massive poster and flyer blitz to illustrate the current situation in the borough. They say the situation is set to worsen with a projected shortage of 1,142 places by 2019.

The campaign is masterminded by leading advertising agency VCCPme.

Its creative partner Jamie Bell, who lives with his wife, Emma, and children, Henry, five, and Olivia, two, in South Ealing designed the posters and flyers.

Mr Bell, whose career highlights include Fashion Targets Breast Cancer featuring Kylie Minogue and the current TV campaign for Macmilian Cancer Support, donated his time for free and is now working with the group to help come up with a school logo.

He said: 'Many families move to Ealing because of the outstanding primary schools.

'But we hit a brick wall when it comes to secondary schools as there is a massive shortfall in places, forcing parents to choose private education in order to avoid the lottery of where their child might end up.

'The team behind Ealing Fields Free School has a real ambition to create an outstanding school with a level of excellence comparable to any private school in the area.'

He added: ''The poster campaign we have created for Ealing Fields should dramatise how crucial Ealing Fields is for local children and fire up the community to get behind the school and show their support.'

The EFFS steering group - which is comprised of local parents and teachers - is planning to submit its application to the Department for Education this September, with a view to open in September 2015.

More than 300 people packed the group's first public meeting last month and another one is planned shortly.

Dr Judith Mortell, the group's leader, said: 'Ealing Fields will be a community school; created by the community for the community.

''It is really exciting to have so many talented and enthusiastic people joining us and working with us to make it happen. The passion and commitment, shown by so many, toward creating an outstanding school is inspiring and is really helping us to drive our application forward.'

Members of the Ealing Fields Free School group plan to distribute thousands of the flyers and posters around the area over the next few weeks.

4th June 2013