Extra schools to cater for new houses in town

Central Beds councillors will be discussing the need for a lower school in the quickly growing Kings Reach part of Biggleswade and for another lower school in Arlesey.

Both would teach 300 pupils with two classes in each year group.

These have both been put forward for the council’s New School Places Programme.

Councillor Mark Versallion, executive member for children’s services, said: “A key role for us as a council is to ensure there’s a school place for every child in Central Bedfordshire.

“Over the next five years over 10,000 new homes will be built, which will mean around 6,000 extra pupils needing a place.

“Our New School Places programme sets out our plans for meeting this extra demand and within that there are proposals for offering new lower school places in Biggleswade and Arlesey – both areas with growing populations.”

Details of how these new school places will be provided have yet to be finalised. Councillors could either decide to build completely new schools or expand existing schools on to a second site.

The school at Kings Reach will be discussed at the executive meeting in May with a view to opening in September 2015 and the Arlesey school will be discussed in December and open the following year.

A consultation will be held before a final decision is made.

Each school will cost more than £5 million. Money will come from the government and Section 106 funding. Central Beds Council may also have to contribute to the programme in future years.

The programme also includes extending Stratton Upper School and one of the middle schools in Biggleswade, Etonbury Academy in Arlesey, Fairfield Park Lower in Stotfold, Shefford Lower, Potton Lower and one of the other lower schools in Stotfold before September 2017.

Mr Versallion said that this is a very important piece of work because it will help children and teenagers to reach their full potentials, both academically and personally.

Do you think these new schools are needed? Email [email protected] with your thoughts.