Primary schools short of 350,000 places
4 September 2010
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James Kirkup, Telegraph
03 Sep 2010
Primary schools will have to find an extra 350,000 places over the next four years despite cuts in education spending, ministers have been warned.
The projected rise in numbers has led to warnings that children starting school in the next few years will face classes of more than 30 pupils Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has been told by Whitehall officials that a surge in the birth rate has increased demand for places by about 15 per cent a year, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. The average primary school now has about 240 pupils, which means that to accommodate the four-year surge in pupils by building new schools could require the construction of about 375 new institutions. A major construction programme is effectively ruled out by the intense pressure on public finances. The calculation has increased the pressure to fund new capacity within schools despite the Government’s austerity programme. It will also trigger a political row as ministers accuse the previous Labour government of failing to adequately prepare for the long-anticipated increase in demand. John Bangs, a visiting professor at the Institute for Education, said: “Primary schools are in crisis. There is an absolute requirement on Michael Gove to fund these additional places — he has no choice. The Government cannot go in for the major reductions of the education budget it has planned.” The projected rise in numbers has led to warnings that children starting school in the next few years will face classes of more than 30 pupils. Many primaries are already facing increased demand. Thousands of children starting school next week will be taught in portable buildings or other makeshift classrooms. Approximately 3,960,000 children are expected to arrive at state primaries and nurseries on Monday, of whom about 600,000 will be there for the first time. This is the first year in a decade that the figure has risen from the previous year. Officials said those increases are likely to continue, with an average annual rise of almost 90,000 between 2011 and 2015, with the total rising for several years afterwards. The Whitehall assessment attributes most of the increase in demand to a baby boom a generation ago. In the decade from 1985, Britain saw a rise in the annual birth rate. Many of those born then now have young children of their own. immigration has also contributed, helping push the birth rate in 2007 to its highest in 26 years. One in four births in England and Wales last year was to a mother born overseas, the Office for National Statistics said last week.
Parentsoutloud say they have been warning Government for over 5 years of this problem but no one listened. The plan put in place pre-election who know if the last Government would ever have implemented it had they come to power and now left bankrupt we are in dire trouble. Schools take a long time to build it is unforgivable any Government should have let this happen, as ever it is our children who are the casualties and pay the price
(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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The elephant in the room… mass immigration.
PURBECK SCHOOL CHILDRENS – EDUCATION – RIP
As a parent of 2 children in the Middle School System within the Purbeck Pyramid, I am at a loss for words following the Dorset County Councils ruling yesterday to change the education system of all the children in the Purbecks to a “ two tier” system.
There was never any money nor is there any money to implement such a change to the schools, the“ 3 Bears” at County can now take early retirement/redundancy thank you very much and leave our education system in pieces.
What shall we see now – 4 Middle Schools becoming derelict, 13 First Schools – oops sorry Primary Schools, the majority of which, will now have to lose any playing fields/grounds that they have ,as this land will be neccessary to use to erect temporary class rooms to accomodate these changes, therefore all children from now until the foreseeable future at least 2020 and beyond – will be educated in porta cabins with less or no freedom to run around and be children!
After Primary School we do not have a choice, it is the Purbeck School only, this too will be a porta cabin city of immense size! And again without any funding.
For every Parent who has a child that attends or is about to attend any education within the Purbeck Pyramid ( Swanage,Bovington,Wareham and Sandford) please shout loudly, look beyond what your Governors and Heads will tell you at the 1st Schools – SUPPORT your future Middle Schools otherwise your children will be lost within an education system that has no funding to carry out any of the proposed works and you will be moaning for the next ??? years of schooling.
OUR CHILDREN HAVE ONE CHANCE AT EDUCATION ! PLEASE LET US GET IR RIGHT FOR THEIR FUTURE !
Both my children were educated in the Purbeck Pyramid after arriving in Wareham from London aged 7 and 10 in 1980 three teir education was excellent both have gone on to have successful careers in Law and IT . I believe First Middle Upper is a good system if its not broke why fix it. I once sat on Dorset County Council Education Committee on behalf of parents and would have fought to keep the system I feel sad for the children and sorry for the parents. Come on Council think carefully before you destroy our middle schools this is no way to improve your community services big is not beautiful.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1309956/British-primary-classes-biggest-Europe-average-26-pupils.html need anymore proof read this link
Thank you MZDW4W, I am not sure whether to laugh or cry, so pleased your own children have achieved and are happy,yes the system is not broke but DCC have tried to fix it anyway, leaving all our children in a mess. Interesting article in the mail, thank you again for your support.
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