Sutton schools expansion programme given go-ahead

Parents living in property to rent in Sutton may be interested to hear that plans to expand schools in the area to cope with its baby boom have been given the green light.

Applications to the education establishments in the borough are rising every year because of their excellent reputation and an increase in births, the local council revealed.

Consequently, an extra 110 places will be provided from September 2012 to cope with the level of demand.

The schools expected to expand are Brookfield Primary, All Saints Benhilton Church of England Primary, All Saints Carshalton Church of England Primary and The Federation of St Elphege's Catholic Infant and Junior.

Funding for this phase of expansion will come from the council's schools capital budget, but there will be extra funds from the Department for Education.

It has set aside £500 million for such projects and Sutton Council will find out how much of this money it has been allocated in the next few months.

Councillor Kirsty Jerome, executive member for schools and colleges on Sutton Council, said this move is essential to ensure every primary school-age child in the borough gets a place.

"Five other primaries have expanded in time for the start of this school term and we're confident we can do it again," she continued. "We've worked closely with the schools, pupils and parents, and will continue to do so. We will also be lobbying the Department for Education for more funding to make sure we can continue to provide permanent school places as the pupils move up through the schools."

Nearly 1,000 parents and residents were asked whether they were in favour of their local school being expanded, with fewer than 20 per cent saying they were against it.

"We're delighted that the vast majority of people are in favour of the expansion plans; the support of parents, pupils and teachers is vital," Councillor Jerome remarked.

Meanwhile, thousands of pupils in Southwark are to receive free healthy school meals in a bid to tackle spiralling levels of childhood obesity.

From this school term, Southwark Council is to offer one nutritious meal a day to 21,000 pupils across 70 primary schools, regardless of that pupil's family income.

The scheme is expected to save a family with two primary school children around £700 per year. 

Published 14th September, 2011

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