Hayes junior school planned to address school place deficit

Posted by Jack Griffith on Jul 20 in Local Authority, uxbridgegazette.co.uk

"PLANS for a new primary school in Hayes have been drawn up, in response to soaring demand for school places anticipated in the next three years.

Proposals for the school, which would be at least three forms of entry and be situated on five hectares of green belt land at the corner of Botwell Common Road and Botwell Lane, will be discussed at a cabinet meeting next Thursday (28).

It would not be built in Lake Farm Country Park itself, which is across the road, and at this early stage, no names for the new school have been considered.

David Simmonds, cabinet member for education and children's services, said: "Lake Farm is a good option as it is well located and will be an important addition to the south of the borough, and in particular the Hayes area.

"It is essential that we provide school places as close as possible to where children live, and we have already said we will vary our green belt policy for schools as it is important that we choose a site with some green land so that children have good quality playing fields as well as high quality buildings."

At the current rate of demand, it is estimated that the borough will need to provide between 750 and 900 additional school places by 2014/2015 - a deficit of between 25 and 30 forms of entry.

A brand new school would ease pressure on existing ones, particularly in the south of the borough where the problem is particularly urgent.

In May, the Leader of the Council Ray Puddifoot said in his Gazette column that exemptions to green belt policy could be made, in light of the immediate shortage of school places and the speed with which expansion has to take place.

More than £100 million is being invested in the school expansion programme.

Colham Manor, Grange Park, Brookside, Cranford and William Byrd Schools will all accept more children in the new school year after getting planning approval for additional school buildings.

The council maintains that it is well on track to delivering the spaces needed in the coming years, if all the plans are agreed by the council.

Mr Simmonds added: "This is a national issue and providing a primary school place for every child in Hillingdon is an absolute priority for the council.

"We are investing significant sums of money in providing excellent school facilities, both at those schools which will take additional children and at any new school.""