Schools crisis as 92 children are denied places at Cheltenham schools (Cheltenham Liberal Democrats)

Cheltenham Liberal Democrats <info@cheltlibdems.org.uk>

Schools crisis as 92 children are denied places at Cheltenham schools

March 7, 2007 10:26 AM

Gloucestershire County Council has admitted that over ninety children who live in Cheltenham have not been allocated places in local secondary schools from September this year. Twenty-three have been allocated to Bishops' College (the former Oxstalls) in Gloucester, fifty-six to Brockworth and thirteen to Tewkesbury.

In previous years, no children from Cheltenham have been allocated places outside the Borough unless they requested them.

Commenting on the emerging crisis in Cheltenham secondary school admissions, local MP Martin Horwood said:

"As a governor of Kingsmead school I described the decision not to admit a Year 7 class to the school this year as 'regrettable but understandable'. But that doesn't justifying bussing Cheltenham pupils all the way to Tewkesbury, Gloucester or Brockworth if they don't want to go.

"We know the real number of pupils needing places won't be 92 so the county council needs to start planning now for how the smaller remainder will be accommodated in the immediate Cheltenham area. This may require some special arrangements but for those parents and children this is an emergency.

"The other crucial step is to step up the support for the existing Kingsmead school, ensuring that the rapid improvements being made are sustained and the excellent team there can retain good teachers and prevent the situation getting even worse next year.

"It is simply not acceptable for parents to be told their children will be forced to travel outside the Borough for their secondary education."