Schools in crisis as dozens of primary pupils denied places in Newquay

Schools in crisis as dozens of primary pupils denied places in Newquay

 

Story by ThisIsCornwall

 

Newquay is facing a schooling crisis after it emerged that dozens of children have been refused places at the town's primary schools from September.

 

Parents have been told that their children may have to start school miles away in villages such as St Eval and Goonhavern.

 

One furious dad said that education bosses had even suggested his four-year-old girl could catch a bus to school by herself.

 

Concern is mounting that the situation for Newquay's oversubscribed schools could get even worse as housing developments spring up across town.

 

Cornwall councillor Geoff Brown has called an emergency meeting of head teachers and education officials to find a solution – which could include building temporary classrooms or even a new school.

 

Mr Brown said he had been flooded with calls from "devastated" parents whose children had been denied a Reception place at local schools. At least 44 youngsters had been refused a spot in a Newquay school.

He said the situation was "especially worrying" as Cornwall Council had received almost £300,000 from housing developers under Section 106 agreements, which was supposed to be spent on ensuring schools could cope with the influx of new families in the town. The money is paid as a condition of planning permission to offset the impact of new developments on infrastructure.

 

Mr Brown, a former head teacher, said: "I am especially concerned that with all the building development which could take place in the town in the next few years the current problem can only get worse.

 

"I have written to the head of education and the Cabinet member to try and find out why additional provision has not been made in Newquay to meet the needs of our youngsters."

 

In a statement, Cornwall Council said this year there had been a higher than expected number of applications for school places.

 

"We appreciate the disappointment felt by those families which have not been allocated a place in the school of their preference and are currently looking at ways of putting additional resources in place for the coming academic year. We are endeavouring to keep parents informed."