Long term solutions for Ed/Rye primary school places shortage

[toast]

The 3 schools around Goodrich have all been bulged and there is still a shortage, population predictions are of a growing need for places in this area and we are running out of schools to bulge.

For the good of our kids and our comminity we need new ideas for sloving this, possible a very small temporary school (could take one intake a year for 3 years and then just roll up with them). Honor oak church conversion does not look sold, that lovely house on the rye is a rental, i know it sounds a bit far fetched but we need ideas that target the areas in need, families tollerated one off bulge classes in their schools, second bulge classes may erode this good will.

We have a new council, a new government and hopefuly new rules, there is still some of the 12 million left, now is the time to write some e-mails.

Please, Please write to your local councillors, they can then use this local support to take to the MPs

Anyone got any other ideas, councillors do read this and they might appreciate the ideas.

[citizenED]

Gread idea for a thread Toast. This has been taxing my mind for a long time. The council get it in the neck for all the parental angst caused by the allocation process, but in all honesty, they are in a difficult position.

However, the first thing I think they should do is go on the charm offensive about Gosse Green School. They should actively encourage parents living close to that school to apply there. They should back up this positive advertising campaign with dedicated help for that school. They need to turn it round so that in two to three years it becomes as popular as Heber or Goodrich. It should be the first preference for those living close by.

It sounds that there are several parents who got their children in there in 2009 are quite happy. Hopefully this will be the beginning of a surge of support from local parents that has continued this year.

Secondly - the council should do something about chuch schools. Ideally they should make them into community schools so that there is a wider availability of places for all children in the borough. If they cannot do that, they should make all the places in those schools open to all children whatever the religious affiliations of the family.

[toast]

Thanks CitizenED

I agree, GG's turn around is key and that appears to be well underway. Also reluctently agree about Church schools, our actual nearest school is Cabrini and if St Anthoneys were 'local' the pressure on Goodrich would be seriously relieved. I understand the need fot strong ethos in schools and shaired religion is an obvious uniting force, but these days spirituality is broader than church attendence. Many families would be keen to support a spiritual ethos but are not church goers. Have no idea what criteria they use, know an interview and recomendation from church is often key.

A key reason for not getting a new school was that religious schools would get first refusal and it would therefore not be 'local', a bit frustrating.