Council consults on extra school places

5.28.18pm GMT Tue 6th Jan 2009

• RICHMOND Council has announced plans to provide an additional 150 permanent reception class places in borough schools, in order to meet forecast demand.

The plans will involve the expansions, by one form of entry each, of Chase Bridge Primary, St Mary's and Peter's Church of England Primary, and Stanley Infant and Junior as an amalgamated primary school; and the conversions of Orleans Infant and St Stephen's Church of England Junior into two-form entry primary schools, subject to the final agreement of all governing bodies concerned.

The Council is consulting on these plans with schools, neighbouring local authorities, and other stakeholders, including residents. Cllr Serge Lourie, Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy and Partnerships, said:

"Our preferred strategy to provide extra school places has always been to do so, as far as possible, through permanent build, rather than through 'bulge' classes. The strategy is the culmination of discussions with schools and Ministers over a considerable period of time so that we are providing places in the right areas and so that funding has been secured. I am delighted that we are now in a position to be able to bring our plans to fruition so that there will be enough places in our extremely successful and popular schools for generations of children to come."

If the plans are implemented, the extra places at Holy Trinity will be provided from September 2010 and the extra places at the other schools will be provided from September 2011.

• HAVE YOUR SAY on the Primary School Expansions Strategy: Consultees who wish to respond to the consultation are invited to do so on the pro forma at the end of the document. The closing date for responses is Monday 2 February 2008. Responses should be sent to: Matthew Paul Deputy Head of Commissioning, Delivery and Service Improvement London Borough of Richmond upon Thames Regal House London Road Twickenham TW1 3QB Email: m.paul@richmond.gov.uk Telephone: 020 8891 7588. Any enquiries on the content of the document should also be addressed to Matthew Paul, by email or by telephone . Responses will be collated and summarised in an appendix to a report to be submitted to Cabinet on 23 February 2009.

Related Links:

• Consultation on primary school expansions

• Richmond upon Thames Primary Strategy for Change published in June 2008