Sutton Council is consulting residents on plans to expand another five schools in time for a predicted surge in applications in September 2013.

At the last Carshalton & Clockhouse Local Committee of  Tuesday, 24th April, we heard how Sutton has one of the highest birth rates in London, and over the past four years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of families applying for primary school places in the borough.

Data from the Greater London Assembly suggests this trend is set to continue. In October 2011, 13,927 pupils attended Sutton Primary schools. By September 2014 this is predicted to rise to 15,906 and by September 2016 it is expected to reach 16,996.

Figures from the Department for Education reveal an additional 100,000 places will be needed across London over the next three years.

Sutton Council anticipated this increase and has been expanding its primary schools for the past three years. Planning ahead is crucial, so the council wants to know what people think about its most recent plans to make sure there are enough places for the start of the 2013 school year.

The schools being considered for expansion are: Amy Johnson Primary School, Avenue Primary School, St Mary’s RC Infant and Junior School  in Carshalton and Dorchester Primary School. Each school would provide one extra form of entry, meaning an extra class of 30 children would be able to start school in September 2013.

Extra places could also be provided at the former Stanley Park High School site, by opening an annexe to another school, Bandon Hill Primary.

Residents can have their say on the proposals through an online questionnaire and the expansions were discussed at all the six local area committee meetings throughout March and April, Carshalton & Clockhouse local committee being one of the last.

Cllr. Kirsty Jerome, Executive Member for Education and Schools at Sutton Council, said: “It’s really important we plan ahead wherever possible, which is why we’re asking people for their thoughts well in advance of when we’re going to need these extra places.

“We’ve worked with governors, teachers, parents and pupils to expand primary schools over the last few years and it’s been very successful. The schools tell us the extra children and facilities we’ve been able to provide have enhanced their school communities and they’ve been able to continue to achieve the excellent results which have put Sutton in the top four performing local authorities in the country.

“As the number of children applying for school places in Sutton continues to increase we are continuing to lobby the Government for more funding so we can ensure every child has a place at a local school.”

Residents can have their say by filling in an online consultation at www.sutton.gov.uk. Paper copies will be sent to all schools. The closing date for responses is Monday 14 May.

£15m boost for primary school places is not enough, warns Sutton Council

Sutton Council has welcomed the news it will receive extra funding for primary school places – but warned this must be followed up with continued investment over the coming years.

Following warnings from councils across London, including Sutton, that extra funding is urgently needed, the Department for Education announced a £600m pot to help the areas most affected by rising pupil numbers. Sutton will receive a £15m share of that money for the 2012/13 school year.

Cllr Kirsty Jerome, Executive Member for Education and Schools at Sutton Council, said: “We’ve campaigned hard for extra money from the Department for Education to make sure we can provide places in our schools for our local children, so I’m glad Mr Gove is directing this money where it is needed.

“It is important that boroughs like Sutton continue to receive this funding, as demand continues to increase, and of course all of these extra pupils will soon need secondary school places too.

“The DfE has recognised that this is a serious issue for Sutton and schools across London, but this piecemeal approach to funding means it’s very hard to plan ahead. We’re calling on the department to think ahead like we are so we can ensure we have plenty of places for local children in the coming years.”

Sutton has one of the highest birth rates in London, and over the past four years has seen a dramatic increase in the number of families applying for primary school places in the borough.

Data from the Greater London Assembly suggests this trend is set to continue. In October 2011, 13,927 pupils attended Sutton Primary schools. By September 2014 this is predicted to rise to 15,906 and by September 2016 it is expected to reach 16,996.

The latest round of money from the DfE will help to expand five primary schools –  All Saints Benhilton Church of England Primary, All Saints Carshalton Church of England Primary, Brookfield Primary and The Federation of St Elphege’s Catholic Infant and Junior and Cheam Infants and Juniors – in time for the start of the new school year in September.

Sutton Council recently launched a consultation to gather views about expanding another four schools in time for September 2013. It is also looking into providing places on the site of the former Stanley Park High School. 

Sutton’s primary schools celebrated some of the best SATs results in the country this year, coming number three in the national league tables. The borough also recorded the best GCSE results in the country.