GOVERNORS, staff and parents at two Appleton schools are fighting proposals to reduce them in size.
Strong opposition has come from both Broomfields Junior School and Cobbs Infants School to proposals they should be reduced from four form entry to three form entry schools.
This would reduce the intake at each school from 120 to 90.
The suggestions have been put forward as part of a review of primary education across the borough being carried out by the borough council.
As part of the changes, prefabricated units at both schools would be removed and some other buildings would be modernised.
A new nursery unit would be built at Cobbs, to replace existing, poor accommodation.
An alternative option of creating two form entry primaries on each site has been ruled out because it is felt it could be very divisive, cutting across the social cohesion that currently exists and benefits pupils of both schools.
St Monica’s RC Primary is the only Catholic school in Appleton and attracts pupils from a wide area. It has a high level of surplus places – 40 per cent – but talks are taking places with the church authorities about provision in the Latchford area which could have an impact on demand for places at St Monica’s.
GOVERNORS, staff and parents at two Warrington schools are fighting proposals to reduce them in size.
Schools fight to avoid cut back
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
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Just a cost cutting exercise with the mention of a bit of modernisation here and there as a sweetener.
Wont the reduction in available places have an impact on ‘parental choice’ with regards to a ‘preferred school’ place if the cuts go ahead especially with all the new housing developemts that seem to be getting a bit closer to starting ???
Would be interesting to know what the actual intake figures were for ALL the primary schools in Warrington last September against their ‘suggested’ intake capacity
and how the figures compare with a few years ago. Couldn’t find them on the web.
Maybe there are so many surplus spaces that we all need to have more children 🙂