Classroom places under pressure

THE

ET has revealed in the past the big rise in pupil numbers in the city that is putting pressure on the city council.

This year the number of pupils who got first or second choice schools has improved.

That is not a bad result, although the total number of pupils seeking places appears to have dropped slightly by around 90.

However, parents in Hampton have been concerned after they were offered the chance to re-apply for school places following the opening up of a new school site.

The new school won’t be finished until 2013 but the council can use temporary classrooms on the site and elsewhere to create more places in Hampton.

It is a possible solution for the 88 parents who did not get a place at a Hampton school they had asked for.

But the fact that more temporary classrooms are needed to provide so many places highlights the great pressure still on school places in the city.

As previously reported, this is largely due to the number of families migrating to Peterborough.

The council is having to work fast to cope with demand for school places and it seems there is little sign of that demand abating. The Government will need to offer even more support to ensure that children in the city get the facilities they need.