SCHOOLS
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As the population of
the borough grows, so
does demand for high
school places. Caroline
Clancy reports on how
the council is working to
expand existing schools
and support the opening
of new ones.
T
his process of increasing
capacity to cater for more
pupils started in 2008 for our
primary school age children.
Since then, an extra 28 permanent
forms of entry have been created in
our primary schools, which are the
equivalent of 5,880 potential new
places in the classroom – places which
are steadily being taken by additional
children as the year groups fill up.
Of course, the problem does not end
there because this rise in the number of
younger pupils will eventually impact on
our high schools as those children grow
older. In fact, the council is expecting
to need an extra 23 forms of entry in
our high schools by 2021 (3,500 places
when those year groups are full).
SO, HOW DO WE TACKLE THIS?
Some expansion has already taken
place, including the opening of William
Perkin High in Greenford in 2013 and
Dormers Wells High School in Southall
being rebuilt and expanded.
Two additional year seven classes
will be created at both Brentside and
Elthorne Park high schools in Hanwell in
time for September 2016 to help meet
early demand in that area and plans are
in place to find ways to make room for
other extra school places elsewhere.
Councillor Binda Rai, cabinet member
for children and young people, said: “I
believe every child deserves the best start
in life and that means providing them
with a place at a good, local school. I am
proud of the work that has been done
in recent years to create extra primary
school places for our children and, as
they grow up and make the transition to
high school, we want to ensure that those
schools have the best facilities.
“Like many parts of London, we are
seeing a growing demand for high
school places. Our work to create more
high school places is achieving results.
Since 2012 we have created 1,200 high
school places and we have done so
through careful planning and investment
as well as working closely with governing
bodies to expand existing schools.
“The biggest challenge now is finding
suitable sites for new schools in areas
where demand is high. We carried out
a search of the borough and recently
presented a shortlist of six potential sites
for high schools to the government’s
Planning Inspectorate. We now await
its decision, which could see those sites
protected in the future for educational use.
“It is important we take action now
to plan for the future and ensure we
have sufficient places.”
Visit www.ealing.gov.uk/education
for more information.
around ealing
Winter 2015/16
37