SO MANY young children are being born or moving into the borough that a second round of primary schools will need to be enlarged.
Harrow Council’s cabinet committee agreed on Thursday last week to draw up a list of schools that will be permanently expanded to cope with the rising demand for class places created by net migration increases and rising birth rates, with the shortfall becoming most acute in 2018/19.
Nine schools are already due to expand in September 2013 to provide 2,760 reception year places and the applications for building improvements at each school are going through the planning process at the moment.
However, councillors were told in a report by Adrian Parker, the council’s head of education strategy and school organisation, that this will not be enough to accommodate all the youngsters so some seven schools may have absorb up to 19 additional classes in time for the 2015/16 academic year in addition to the temporary bulge reception classes.
Officers have met with headteachers and the Diocese of London to discuss which schools would be most suitable and willing for expansion and the proposed list will be presented to the cabinet committee in April 2013 for approval, the report said.
No schools have been named but the report said it is likely to include Aylward Primary School in Stanmore, Priestmead Primary School and Nursery in Kenton and a joint bid between Weald Infant and Nursery School and Weald Junior School.
These were three of eight Harrow projects to win money through the Department for Education’s Priority School Building Programme that will provide capital grants for rebuilding and improving their premises.
The remaining five successful bids are the schools among those expanding in September 2013.
The shortage of places may further lessened by the opening of a proposed three form entry school included in the plans for the redevelopment of Kodak site in Harrow View, Harrow.
Avanti House School, a free school currently split between Harrow Teachers’ Centre in Tudor Road, Wealdstone, and Krishna-Avanti Primary School in Camrose Avenue, Edgware, could also provide extra places if stays in the borough, while Krishna-Avanti could expand if governors approve.
Councillor Mitzi Green, portfolio holder for children, schools and families, said: “This £26m project will provide hundreds of extra primary school places in the areas they are needed, as well as local employment, and will improve our facilities ahead of the 2013 school year.”
