Whiteley Primary School Provision Item 6

Note of consultation meeting with the Whiteley community, held at Whiteley Community Centre on 22 March 2005.

Present were approximately 110 members of the public, 3 governors and the head teacher of Whiteley Primary School, 4 county or district councillors, the Diocesan Director of Education and representatives of the press. The main points raised are set out below:

_ Are there any primary schools in Hampshire larger than 630 pupils?

_ Is the use of surplus places outside the area more important than the education of pupils within the community?

_ Why should the community believe the forecasts now when they have been "spectacularly wrong" over many years?

_ Option 1 needs to be explained in greater detail. Why did the DfES withdraw their funding?

_ What was expected to be a blip in numbers has become a permanent feature. Almost one form entry of children are now travelling out of Whiteley.

_ Pleased that all options are open, as consultation document appears to shut down options 3 and 4.

_ The number of new houses in the Western Wards has been underestimated.

_ Option 4 does not provide community cohesion. There are already too many out of catchment pupils attending other schools.

_ Spare space at St John the Baptist Primary should be used for other purposes.

_ Expansion of Whiteley Primary to 4 form entry would be the natural expansion of what has been provided. In the future, the school might not be that large if numbers in the area fall off.

_ There is a lack of confidence in the LEA's forecasting. A lot can happen between data collection and actual admissions.

_ Why does the LEA not aim for classes of 28 for younger pupils?

_ Are all options really open? Can decisions go against officer recommendations?

_ What would be the curriculum implications of expansion to 4 form entry? What would the school lose?

_ Why has the LEA not considered using the County Council owned land in Leafy Lane?

_ Has a temporary school, alongside the existing primary school, been considered?

_ If option 3 may result in surplus space in the future, can new accommodation be designed for multiple functions?

_ Children are caught between the alternatives. A creative solution is needed to meet the needs of Whiteley's population and take account of the social and working life of the area's residents. This also impacts on the social life of the children when neighbours attend different schools.

_ It is impossible to get two children to schools on opposite sides of the motorway.

_ How long would it take to build a new school or extension?

_ How soon could option 4 be put in place?

_ New residents should be advised of the situation before committing to purchase a house in Whiteley.

_ How can the waiting list policy be fair when families moving into the area to houses closer to the school get priority over those already on the list?

_ What is needed are more school places within Whiteley, and short term measures until the permanent solution is available. These should be in place for September 2005.

_ Why cannot developers pay for the new school places?

_ If the school is extended, will the governing body consider retaining empty classrooms until the full demand arises?

_ Will the LEA consider other options?

_ How much money is available to buy land?

_ Why is the Leafy Lane site not suitable?

_ Officers should visit the area at peak times to experience the traffic problems.

_ How will the results of the consultation be fed back to the community?

_ How much weight will be given to views expressed?

_ Can there be further discussions with the community before decisions are made?

_ Wold the Policy Review Committee meet in Whiteley?

_ Opening the bus-only link in Yew Tree Drive mat help reduce transport times, but parents may be reluctant to put 4 year olds on a bus.

_ The expansion of the business park will attract more families with children into the area. Has this been taken into account?

_ On a show of hands, there as unanimous support for the provision of additional places within Whiteley, although no strong preference for option 1 or 3.