I am concerned that there is no mention of secondary school provision within the North East Cambridge Area plan. This is of particular importance for the following reasons:

-Cambridge city is already expecting a shortage of 611 secondary places by 2023-2024 according to the SCAP forecasting data, a calculation which I understand does not include the North East Cambridge development.

- It is not clear how many homes are intended to be build, but on the assumption that it would be around 5000 homes, then County Council guidance of 18-25 secondary places per hundred homes would suggest provision required for between 900 and 1250 students. Given the predicted shortfall it is clear existing schools cannot absorb these extra numbers

-The executive summary (point xiii) emphasises the desire to create an environment with a 'strong identity' and 'excellent neighbourhood facilities'. Schools provide this important social focus, shared by students and their families, but also providing facilities that can be shared by the wider community.

-A secondary school within NEC would support the laudible intentions of the executive summary points xxvii and xxxi, that transport by walking and cycling should be central to the design. Large numbers of students travelling to school outside the area would discourage walking and cycling and add to the already problematic congestion of north Cambridge.