New school places for 2019 due to pupil rise

Three primaries taking on bulge classes in 2017

A “significant rise” in the number of Peterborough pupils means more secondary school places will be needed from September 2019. Despite new schools in Hampton and Paston being built in the next few years, and expansions taking place at three more secondaries, more places are still needed in the city.

Brian Howard, Peterborough City Council’s head of schools infrastructure, told a children and education scrutiny committee meeting: “School place planning is very challenging, and for a city like Peterborough with its growth in recent years and aspirations of growth it’s a consistent challenge with the need for good data and expert resources.”

A feasibility study is underway to expand Ken Stimpson Community School in Werrington by two forms of entry, and a consultation is being carried out by the City of Peterborough Academy to withdraw its sixth form and potentially increase its number of pupils by 30.

Meanwhile, Dogsthorpe Infants took on a ‘bulge’ class in reception year, while Woodston and Newark Hill primaries will be both be adding a bulge class from September.

Bulge classes are an extra class to what the school normally takes. Mr Howard added: “Since September, 60 per cent of our leavers out of the city were Eastern European.”

A council spokesman said: “As part of a sample of 13 central cluster primary schools it was found that a total of 235 children left these schools between September 2016 and June 30, 2017. The children were from a range of backgrounds, including 60 per cent from Eastern European families.”

The Peterborough Telegraph asked for an explanation of the figures but was told no analysis had been undertaken.