KCC ‘has not ignored schools crisis’


Continued from page one Thismeansthatbythe endof


the decade, the equivalent of 3,200 additional schools will be needed as the population reaches a 50-year high. Applications for primary school places in Kent were up by 200 this year, with 85% of the 16,499 applicants allocated a first place choice and 96% one of their choices. However, 661 parents learned that their child did not get a place at any of their chosen schools. Councils have already been reported as looking at convert- ing disused police stations, churches, council offices – even sheds and car parks – to ease the pressure on places.


In Tunbridge Wells, a free school is being created on the former Kent and East Sussex Hospital site, and Cllr Whiting said the growth in free schools and academies brought poten- tial for new opportunities. “In some inner cities, schools


have their playgrounds on the roof,” he said. But he denied claims by the LibDems that KCC has ignored the impending crisis. Cllr Whiting, who was instru- mental in putting together the Kent education commissioning plan, which is updated annu- ally, said: “As a result of this plan,we are much better placed than many local authorities – andmuch better placed than we were.We also have a very good


Figures reflect UK trend GOVERNMENT statistics say one in five UK primary schools is full or over capacity Pupils could be crammed into classes of over


30 or sent miles from their homes as schools struggle to cope as birth rates and immigration rise. A school in Somerset is seeking permission


to teach from two converted sheds while Barking and Dagenham council is considering leasing space in former MFI andWoolworths stores. Last year Chancellor George Osborne said the schools’ budget will rise from £35billion to £39billion over the next four years and that an extra £600m will go to local authorities experi- encing pressure for school places.


DownsMail editor Stephen Eighteen with his marathon medal


baseline towork from, based on figures from the 2011 census.” Cllr Whiting said the census


had revealed a growth in child numbers in the South East three times higher than anticipated. “We are awarewewill need to provide 10,000 more school places in the next couple of years,” he said, adding that par- ents should have schools close to home and not have to travel. “It’s no good having a shortfall


in Staplehurst and expecting the children to fill vacant ca- pacity in Barming.” Maidstone Locality Board is currently reviewing the KEC Plan, which will be re-pub- lished in October. Mr Gerard said he was exas-


DOWNS Mail editor Stephen Eighteen has raised more than £1,000 for Wildlife Heritage Foundation after runninghis first London Marathon. Stephen (33) completed the 26.2-mile course in a time of three hours 17 minutes and 33 seconds, placing him 3,015 out of more than 34,000 finishers. The money raised will help


WHF, basednear Headcorn, con- tinue its work to protect the world’s big cat species. Stephensaid: “Peoplehadtold


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perated that Maidstone contin- ued to press ahead with house- building at a time when pressure on school places was already evident. He said: “The birth rate in Maidstone has risen from 1,500 a year in 2002 to 1,900 now. Yet rather than building more schools, the Conservatives are just building more houses. “With massive development planned on sites such as Her- mitage Lane, I really fear for the current crop of babies. Where will these extra 400 children a year – plus all the incomers – go to school? “I don’t want Maidstone chil-


dren to be left in sub-standard, emergency accommodation.”


Stephen achieves his marathon ambition


mebefore about theatmosphere generated by the crowd in Lon- don, but Inever believed itwould be quite as incredible as itwas. “Givenmy job, I’m ashamed to


say I have not been able to come up withwords of sufficient mag- nitude to describe the experi- ence. “Iwould like to thank all those


who sponsored me and have backed this wonderful charity. I could not have fulfilled a life- time’s ambition without somuch generous support.”


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