Long Ashton news

Village School places

posted 31 Jan 2008

[This item was sent in by a resident]

23 children who live in the village have been unable to get a place at either of the schools.

North Somerset councils' solution, of sending 4 year old children by bus to wherever in the county there happens to be a space, is unacceptable. How can the children be part of their local community if they cannot go to their local schools? Never mind the effect on their health of a long bus journey to school and back each day?

The increase in demand for school places has been compounded by the new homes that have been built in
the village. The school places have not been increased accordingly. This problem is only going to get worse, as there are homes yet to be built.

Why are there no plans in place? Why was the new Northleaze School, built in 2006, not built with an
increase in capacity available for the future, knowing that these houses were being built? What have the companies building those houses given back to the community?

The government is supposedly encouraging the creation of sustainable communities- this cannot happen if
there is not enough investment in local services, of which schools are the most important.

Given that there is considerable new housing in the village (of the sort which one would expect to attract young families) this problem should have been foreseen, and will obviously continue to be an issue.

To respond that there is 'no money' is not an acceptable answer - there is clearly a need for creative thinking around the issues of space, numbers and the availability of teaching staff. A short-term solution is a necessity, followed by planning which includes awareness of the changing demography of Long Ashton.

http://www.petitiononline.com/spla08/petition.html (opens in new window)