Concern over primary school provision

Councillor Dale Mulgrew

Councillor Dale Mulgrew has called for an examination into the future of primary school provision in Rochdale South, following fears that current and future plans are based on birth rate projections alone and don’t take into account the number of housing developments that are planned for the area.

Rochdale South covers the wards of Balderstone and Kirkholt, Castleton, Kingsway and Milkstone and Deeplish.

Housing developments are planned for the Woolworth’s site and Whipp and Bourne site in Castleton, Hartley Lane and Curzon and Cumberland Roads in Kirkholt; and Woodbine Street and Kingsway Village – which are likely to attract families with children.

With primary school provision in Rochdale South and Castleton already full Councillor Mulgrew is asking for planning to start now.

To cope with the increase in birth rates there has been an increased intake at Lower Place Primary School and there are also plans to increase the intake at Sandbrook Community Primary School next September. Extra classrooms to accommodate the extra children are in temporary buildings.

Councillor Mulgrew, said: "Currently primary school provision is full and getting fuller, it is bursting at the seams across the Rochdale South footprint. But current and future projections are not taking into account the migratory patterns which will impact upon school rolls, because of all the new house building scheduled to take place in the area.

"I am not sure if we can just keep putting up portable cabins to cover the increase in the demand for places. This surely is unsatisfactory for the long run, and also places immense pressure on the schools affected, as they have to manage the unprecedented increase to their roll.

"An urgent mapping exercise of all future new developments needs to be conducted.

“This could then lead to a serious debate on whether current and future planned primary provision can meet constructively the changing trends for the Rochdale South district."

Cheryl Eastwood, Executive Director of Children’s Services at Rochdale Borough Council, said: “We are already well aware of the issue and will be inviting Councillor Mulgrew, and other Rochdale South councillors, to a meeting to discuss his concerns as soon as possible.

“Ensuring that we meet the educational needs of our young people, now and in the future, remains a fundamental priority for the council.”