Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Schools Improvement

Forward Plan Ref: 2011/011

Contact: Barbara Chillman, Principal Officer – School Organisation & Planning Tel: (01865) 816459

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CA10).

In recent years the Wantage and Grove area has experienced a significant and sustained rise in primary pupil numbers due to birth rates and recent/current housing development in Wantage.

Charlton Primary School is a school for 4-11 year-olds located on the eastern edge of Wantage and its site and buildings have been identified as the best option for immediate and future phased development via judicious remodelling and expansion. Until recently the school had planned to admit 40 children each year but due to the projected rising numbers of children needing primary school places in Wantage, the school's admission number for 2011 was published at 45 [1.5 form entry], and the school has agreed to accept up to a maximum of 60 F1 children for this September, subject to the provision of appropriate teaching accommodation. 

Following local consultation, a decision is now needed whether to permanently expand the school to 2 forms of entry (with an admission number of 60), which will require an enlargement to the physical capacity of the school.

Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Charlton Primary School.

In recent years the Wantage and Grove area had experienced a significant and sustained rise in primary pupil numbers due to birth rates and recent/current housing development in Wantage. Following local consultation, Cabinet considered a report seeking a decision on whether to permanently expand the school to 2 forms of entry (with an admission number of 60), which will require an enlargement to the physical capacity of the school.

Councillor Zoe Patrick, as a local member commented that the number of children in Grove and Wantage was growing. She had attended a local meeting on the proposals that had been generally positive but there were concerns over traffic. She referred to the plans to improve the car park and to the Travel plan. She accepted the loss of the swimming pool although it was a shame. She welcomed the extra space as ideally all local children should be able to go to a local school of their choice.

RESOLVED:                        to approve the publication of a statutory notice for the expansion of Charlton Primary School.