downsmail.co.uk
Education | News
‘Village needs new primary’
A LOCAL MP has called for a sec- ond primary school for Bearsted as the acute shortage of places contin- ues to grow. Helen Whately, pictured right,
claims there “is no time towaste” to get a new school up and running as it is “unacceptable” tomakechildren travel long journeys. Her words were echoed earlier
this year by head of Thurnham in- fant school, Chris James, who said the continued building in Bearsted will make matters worse. Mrs Whately has met with Paul
Carter, leader of Kent County Coun- cil,whohas found potential sites but is awaiting confirmation from the government’s funding agency. Mrs Whately said: “There is an
acute shortage of primary school places in and around Bearsted. All the schools in the area are oversub- scribed, leaving some children to travel long distances to get to school. “We need more primary school
places in the Bearsted area, sooner rather than later. “It is clearly unacceptable to ex-
pect children as young as four to make long journeys to and from school. In many families both par- ents work, and it’s hard enough to be a working parent with school on your doorstep, let alone if you have to spend hours each day getting your child to and from school.
“I’ve heard there are children hav-
ing to get two buses or parents driv- ing in rush hour traffic half way across Maidstone because their chil- dren have been given places in schools so far away. This certainly isn’t healthy either, when what we should see is most children being able towalk to school. “Kent County Council wants the
new school to open in September 2018, but they are worried about de- lays. That’s why I’ve written to the Education Funding Agency urging them to treat this as a priority.” Mr James said: “We cannot keep building in Thurnham and Bearsted – where are the children going to go to? Three years agowewere unable to satisfy demand. People whowere living in this area were not getting the school places.”
Developers must pay share
THE Downs Mail has highlighted the problem of school place short- ages in recent months. All Maidstone primaries are
fully subscribed except one – the under-construction Langley Park Primary Academy, which has 60 places but only 22 pupils due to start in September. It will be sited off the Sutton
Road next to a large new housing development (pictured). It prompted fears that it will be-
come an “overflow” school for pri- maries whose lists are full. Kent County Council Cabinet member for education Roger Gough said that a “high propor- tion” of children are starting school at their parents’ preferred choice. He added: “Unfortunately, a
small minority of pupils have not been given a school of their prefer- ence and I would like to assure parents a specialistKCCteam is on hand to help.” An estimated 15,000 extra pri-
mary school places are expected to be needed by 2020. This has raised concerns – espe-
cially in light of Maidstone Coun- cil’s plans for an extra 18,000 houses – that demand will outstrip the rate of supply. Local county councillor Gary
Cooke – whose division takes in Langley Park and some of Maid- stone’s most over-subscribed schools - has said it is of “prime importance” that developers shoulder the cost burden of educa- tion in areas they wish to build on. He demanded “that new hous-
ing developments mitigate their educational impact through devel- oper’s financial contributions, en- abling the expansion of existing schools, the establishment of new free schools and the development of new academies.”
Uncover the best
nights sleep at Clarkes
Everyday life is dramatically affected by the quality of sleep which is why at Clarkes you will discover a fantastic range of great beds.
With Experts on hand for advice about the
relevant attributes, selecting the best bed will be a relaxing experience.
SummerSale The
www.clarkesfurnishers.co.uk 01622 753073
Sandling Road, Maidstone Kent ME14 2RF
BEDROOM FURNITURE DIVA N S | BEDS TE ADS
MAT TRE SSE S | PIL L O W S | HE ADBOARDS Maidstone East July 2016 11
Now On
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48