SECONDARY schools in Warrington are facing a crisis – with the possibility of the borough being unable to meet its statutory duty to offer enough places to Year 7 pupils as early as 2026.
In the September of that year, the largest- ever cohort of students is expected to move into secondary schools.
As a result, members of the borough council’s cabinet will be asked on Monday, December 9 to approve a range of recommendations, including extending the age range at the popular Bruche Primary School to include secondary age puipils – subject to the approval of the Department for Education.
This move would involve significant funding for Bruche – and the demolition of the existing Bruche Infant Block.
A report to be presented to the cabinet by Cllr Jean Flaherty, deputy leader of the council and lead member for education (pictured above) will put a number of other recommendations forward.
These will include investment at Great Sankey High School – which would become one of the largest secondary schools in the county – and Lymm High School.
The proposals are to support the borough council in meeting its statutory responsibility to offer sufficient places for pupils moving up to high schools and to those moving into Warrington.
A number of factors have led to the swelling secondary school population, which is expected to continue growing until at least 2030-31.
These are:
*High levels of inward migration
*A population explosion in west Warrington due to the Omega development filling up much quicker than planned.
*Delays in a rebuild of Penketh High School
*A rapid increase in in the population of schools in the centre of the borough – with further significant housing development expected over the next 10 years.
*A increase in the school population in the east of Warrington.
*Schools in the south growing because of the expansion of Bridgewater.
*Warrington being a net importer of pupils from outside the borough – almost 900 more children from outside the borough than the number that live in the borough but attend schools elsewhere.
In addition, the potential addition of VAT to private school fees is expected to mean some Warrington children may wish to return to state education.
3 Comments
Hardly surprising not enough school places ?
The rate at which houses are being built . The infrastructure of schools ,doctors surgeries etc is not keeping pace ! With the construction of housing .
It’s already been pointed out to the Government that the proposed building of 1.5 million houses in 5 years is unachievable.
And let’s not forget that mass immigration is one of the biggest reasons there is a lack of school spaces, never mind the doctors and the nhs being overwhelmed.
WBC too keen on collecting the council tax to stem the debt abyss they have created