Split school site idea to meet baby boom in Southend (From Southend Standard)
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Split school site idea to meet baby boom in Southend
11:00am Tuesday 4th September 2012 in Echo News By Christine Sexton
A PRIMARY school could split itself over two sites as council chiefs desperately try to find enough spaces for new pupils.
Southend Council is considering expanding St Mary’s Church of England Primary School, in Boston Avenue, into its old base in East Street.
The school moved out of the building several years ago, but council bosses believe using it as a separate annexe could go some way towards solving their space shortage crisis.
The authority needs to find room for an extra 90 pupils a year across the town by 2015 to cope with an ongoing baby boom.
James Courtenay, the Tory councillor responsible for children and learning, said: “We have earmarked £4million for the additional provision of places and we are progressing with plans on how to do that.
“As yet, there has been no decision.
“St Mary’s looks like a good option for allowing us additional pupil places, but the issue with a split site is how it would work.
“Once we have the answers, we will put our recommendations to all members of the council before a final decision is made.”
In November 2010, council chiefs revealed a massive expansion programme was needed at Southend’s primary schools.
Birth rates in the borough have rocketed in recent years, from 1,914 in 2004/05 to 2,232 in 2009/10.
Last year, the Echo revealed the council had set aside £370,000 to buy the Boston Loft flats, which are next St Mary’s school in Sweyne Avenue, demolish them and build a new extension to the school.
Mr Courtenay said that was still an option, but emphasised any decision would have to be made soon to meet the 2015 expansion deadline.
Apart from being used by South Essex College to run some of its course, the East Street building has been empty since the school left it.
Mr Courtenay said: “There is a lot to do in order to meet the deadline, so we hope to make a decision early in the new year.”
Comments(5)
pembury53
says...
4:53pm Tue 4 Sep 12
emcee wrote:Your perfectly correct of course that this is entirely due to the flood of immigration....... But as for "why hasn't anybody thought of that before", millions have but the problem is that nobody will vote for it, even assuming there was a candidate from any party on offer around here that would be prepared to speak out and be radical enough.
Quote: "Birth rates in the borough have rocketed in recent years, from 1,914 in 2004/05 to 2,232 in 2009/10."
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Come on, lets not beat about the bush, so has immigration.
So rather than continually having to increase services and accommodation why not do something radical like control the birth rate and curb immigration. Hmmmm, now why hasn't anybody thought of that before?
Nebs
says...
9:56pm Tue 4 Sep 12
A.Winnie
says...
1:39pm Wed 5 Sep 12
pembury53
says...
4:06pm Wed 5 Sep 12
A.Winnie wrote:Fair enough on the ED but the point remains how many will vote for it..... The impression i get reading some of the comments on here is that people will virtually need their throats cut before accepting we have a major problem...... By the time most wake up this will be a very dangerous place to be !
Pembury you clearly never heard of the English Democrats in Southend, if it effects the English they will speak out and do not worry who is offended.
emcee says...
12:43pm Tue 4 Sep 12
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Come on, lets not beat about the bush, so has immigration.
So rather than continually having to increase services and accommodation why not do something radical like control the birth rate and curb immigration. Hmmmm, now why hasn't anybody thought of that before?