Council questionnaire to decide allocation of school places
Families in Acton, Greenford, Northolt and Perivale can have their say on local primary school places from this week, as the latest round of council consultation gets underway.
The six-week consultation, which begins today, is part of an ongoing council strategy to meet growing demand for primary school places in the borough.
In April the council announced plans to create 210 permanent new reception-year places by expanding eight schools across the borough.
Last month, a further 60 reception-year places were proposed in Ealing and Hanwell through the expansion of St Mark’s, Brentside and Hobbayne primary schools. These plans are subject to a four-week period of statutory consultation beginning at the end of October.
The latest consultation in Greenford, Northolt, Perivale and Acton recognises that birth rates continue to rise strongly in these areas and further primary school places will be needed on top of those already announced. In Greenford, Northolt and Perivale up to 180 new reception-year places could be needed by 2012, while in Acton an estimated 90 new places will be required.
Ealing Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Ian Gibb, said: “Birth rates are rising across the borough and the council has to plan for this growth. We know more primary school places are going to be needed and, through this consultation, parents and local residents can tell us where they would like to see them created. We want to ensure that we not only have enough school places for local children, but also that these places are delivered with the needs of local families in mind.”
The online questionnaire can be accessed at www.ealing.gov.uk/consultations from Friday.
Printed surveys are available at early years’ centres and primary schools, and letters will also be sent to residents living near schools named in the survey.
All online and written responses are due by 13 November.
October 5, 2009