Concerns raised about increasing reception places at Bowlee Community School

Concerns have been raised following the consultation about reception classes at Bowlee Community primary School.

Councillor Terry Linden raised his concerns as a resident and as a school governor at Thursday's Middleton Township Committee meeting.

Councillors were presented with a report which asked them to consider the report and to give their views on the strategy and proposals to meet any expected increase in demand for Reception Class places in the period to September 2018.

The report states that in Middleton Township the overall trend has been one of declining numbers of children born between 1998/9 and 2000/1. From then there was an increase in the number of children born to a peak in 2011/12 (for admission to school in September 2016). For the last two years there has been a fall in the number of children born in the township.

Raising his concerns, Councillor Linden said: “In the first consultation paper on increasing admission numbers at Bowlee Community Primary School, the request is to increase forms one to six by an extra form of 30 places, taking the admission number to 120 places per year – a four form school (720 children).

“The second consultation paper now states that they are consulting on increasing admission numbers at Bowlee Primary School Reception Class by an extra form of 30 places, taking admission numbers to 120 places per year – a four form provision. This would increase the full time children using the school and site to 840 children.

“The school at present has a foundation stage for children aged two plus and three plus of two classes of which the admission number is at present 120 part time places. This would increase the usage of the school and site to 960 full and part time children. At present it is at the May 2015 figure of only 27 full and part time children. This will be an increase of full and part time children when completed and full, to an increase of 333 children, 53% on present figures.

“It is my concern that all of the recommendations to increase admission numbers have been presented separately and give a false pretence on how many full and part time children will need to use the school site and make the consultation in two maybe three part a misleading way to consult parents, councillors and residents.”

Councillor Neil Emmott responded to Councillor Linden’s concerns and said: “If we don’t increase then the problem will be exacerbated. Children who live in Langley will not be offered a place at a school in Langley. We have to deal with this here and now. If we don’t, then we will get children from Langley at other schools. We have the support of the governors, the school and the community.”

Councillor Linden asked the committee to “prove him wrong” and added “but I don’t think you will”.

Councillor Donna Martin was keen to stress that the children’s services department was full of transparency and that the consultation was done correctly. She said: “First of all this department is always clear about any consultation. We have had a great response from the school about this. This is already an outstanding school and most parents would rip your hand off for their child to go there. This report is welcoming. Research has shown that bigger schools in deprived areas do better so this doesn’t mean that big isn’t beautiful. In this case, big is beautiful.”