Allocation of places at schools to change as class sizes rise

The number of primary school children seeking places in the district’s schools last Sep-tember not only exceeded the projected amount by 320 pupils, but also the maximum number of places available – an issue which looks set to worsen as the district gears up for new housing developments, including the 1,500-home development at The Racecourse Newbury and the building of 2,000 new homes at the Sandleford site.
Despite a maximum capacity for the district’s primary schools, set at 1,876, last September, a total of 2,018 pupils were enrolled.
The portfolio holder for education at West Berkshire Council, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston), said that urban areas such as Newbury, Thatcham and Theale had been most affected, with many schools in those areas seeing an increase in class sizes in September as a result. However, she stressed that at no point were there more than 30 pupils in a class.
She said that the council was already making steps to combat the increase in pupils, thought to have been caused by a rise in the numbers of children moving into the area, and because fewer families were moving to rural communities in West Berkshire to raise children. She added that the surge in primary school pupils was a national issue and felt not just in West Berkshire.
“Over the course of the last year, we have been making provisions in the areas needed.
“Theale Primary had an extension which took an extra class and we have been working on other schools to increase their size, including Spurcroft, Francis Bailey and Thatcham Park School (all in Thatcham), and John Rankin and The Winchcombe (Newbury).
“Generally we are making the schools in these areas physically bigger.”
For secondary schools, the amount of pupils seeking places fell from 1,930 in 2011 to 1,877 in 2012, and has since been predicted to drop to 1,793 for September.
The council is now looking to contract asset consultancy firm EC Harris to calculate future figures for them to prevent errors arising again, a service which Mrs Neill said would be a “small additional cost” to funds already allocated in the budget.
She added: “They will be updated at least three times a year to take account of any changes, for instance new housing applications and a number of other local factors, for the next five years.”
The shadow portfolio holder for education, David Allen (Lib Dem, Victoria) said that he supported the move.
He said: “It’s always good to get West Berkshire Council to consult, just as long as they take heed of what is recommended.
“I’m generally in favour of what they are doing.”
A consultation with schools, governors and members of the public will be launched in the coming few weeks, but a date is yet to be confirmed.