Readers will have seen our web site postings of the All Saints’ School planning application recently. Another one of the borough’s most over-subscribed schools has been given the green-light to expand, providing much-needed extra primary school places. Sutton Council’s Development Control Committee has granted planning permission to expand Cheam Common Infant School, as part of a borough wide programme to increase capacity. It will see the popular school increase from three to four forms of entry. An extra class of 30 children will start at the school from September 2012, providing more places in Worcester Park, which is the area of the borough experiencing the highest demand.
Sutton saw the highest increase in birth rates in London between 2008 and 2009, so the council has been able to anticipate a spike in demand, beginning in September 2012. Worcester Park, rather like Carshalton Central, is one of the most affected areas in the borough, with a huge rise in births between 2001 and 2009.
Another four schools across the borough will expand in time for the start of the school year in September, providing another 120 extra places. Cllr. Kirsty Jerome, Executive Member for Education and Schools at Sutton Council, said: “This is great news for parents of very young children in the Worcester Park area who will already be worrying about finding a school place. This is where we’ve seen the biggest increase in demand, and it’s absolutely crucial that we’re able to provide places for children at local schools.
“In response to the pressures on our primary schools we expanded five on time and on budget, ready for September 2011. We will expand another five, including Cheam Common Infants, in time for next year and continue to lobby the Department for Education for more funding to make sure we can continue to provide permanent school places as pupils move up through the education system.”
Sutton’s primary schools celebrated some of the best SATs results in the country last year, coming number three in the national league tables. The borough also recorded the best GCSE results in the country…