No
Draft Local Plan Review
Representation ID: 4251
Received: 17/02/2017
Respondent: Mrs Daphne Morgan
Aware of need for housing but with 3,000 new houses proposed in the catchment of St George and St Teresa school which is already oversubscribed so not all siblings get a place denying children a Catholic education and increasing need to travel. There is a need for expanded 2 form entry school, either on same site or in Arden triangle and this should be afforded high priority in addressing needs of development.
New developments & future school development.
Having been made very aware of the shortage of houses via the media in the past few months, I would like to make it very clear that I fully understand the need for new houses. However, everything needs to be kept in proportion. With new houses, approx 6000 in our local area, of which approx 3000 to be built in the catchment area of St George & St Teresa I feel we need to have a local Catholic School that has been equipped to be able to fully meet the needs of its ever increasing Catholic population.
As you are already aware, St George & St Teresa School is at present a one form entry school. This has, in recent years led to the situation of not all pupils who already have a sibling at the school being offered a place at the school. As you can imagine this has led to a logistical nightmare to the parents who find themselves dropping off pupils at different Primary schools, not to mention increased traffic & pollution. More importantly these children are being denied a Catholic education, of which having had 4 children educated at this wonderful school deeply troubles & saddens me.
It was suggested at our meeting that the most positive outcome would be to create a 2 form entry school in response to the huge increase of housing to be built.
Two solutions were put forward, either to remain on the same site & extend or to move to the " Arden Triangle" & build a new school. Either of these solutions would be acceptable if it meant the Catholic education could be assured for any future Grandchildren!( one on his way & in catchment!) I, therefore would ask that the council in their forthcoming planning with regards to education would make this a high priority in addressing the future needs of any Catholic child within the catchment of St George & St Teresa by ensuring adequate funding for these proposals to be carried out, in order to allow the continuation of the excellent standard of education being offered at present by the staff of St George & St Teresa to future children .
Thank you for listening to my point of view.