Chelsea and Fulham’s newest free school, opened its doors this week to the delight of pupils, parents and teachers alike. Fulham Boys School, whose future had been in jeopardy earlier this year after uncertainty over its site, had its first day of the school year on Monday 15th September.
Back in July, local MP Greg Hands intervened in a dispute between the new Labour Council of Hammersmith and Fulham and the Department for Education, in order to help safeguard the site of the School. Greg met with Michael Gove (then Education Secretary) and Lord Nash, the Schools Minister, urging them to reconsider the Department for Education’s decision. After a guarantee from the Mayor of London to help the school find a permanent home in the Borough, the school was able to open as planned this September.
Greg Hands said: “I’m thrilled that, after what was difficult summer, Fulham Boys School is now open. This is fantastic for parents and pupils who have been through a lot to get their schools into what we believe will be a top quality Church of England secondary school. I was delighted to be able to play a part in making this happen. I wish the all the staff, teachers and, most of all, the pupils a very successful school year."
Headmaster Alun Ebenezer commented, “With all the recruiting, planning, policy writing, meeting, campaigning, lobbying and fighting done, what a feeling to open the gates on Monday morning to the first ever ‘Fulham Boys’. We now begin the really hard work of honouring our pledge to deliver a flagship school for the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and become one of the best schools in the country – state or private.”
FBS will be opening at Gibbs Green, North Fulham, for at least two years. It will then move to its permanent home, details of which will be announced later.