Document Collating the Representations Received to the Statutory Proposals, Arranged by School
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Appendix J: Document collating the representations received to the Statutory Proposals, arranged by school. Various Schools/ general comments 1. 2. Brentside Primary School 1. We are writing to object to the proposal to massively increase the capacity of Brentside Primary School. The school and its existing resources currently meet the needs of its pupils well yet no clear benefits are set out in the proposed plan. In particular we are concerned about how safe drop off and collection could be achieved with increased numbers and reduced playground space, how safety and quality of local environment can be assured despite extra traffic and car parking, and how the council proposes to justify the loss of music resources and communal space which currently have a clear and positive impact on the well being, esteem and achievement of pupils. Furthermore the extensive rebuilding works are likely to be detrimental to the health of asthmatic pupils such as our son. Involvement and participation of parents has been non-existent prior to a school letter dated 16th January informing families of Ealing Council’s statutory notice. We received no information during the alleged consultation period April-May 2008, during which time our son was in nursery at Brentside. Deciding upon a suitable school is a significant long term commitment and information regarding these plans should have been made available. We fail to understand how the cooperation and support of parents is expected when information sharing has been minimal. We understand the challenge to be met by the council in securing primary school places for a growing population but do not believe Brentside and the local area suitable or able to accommodate the intended level development. 2. 3. I would like to put on record my objection to the proposal to enlarge Brentside Primary School, Hanwell. I currently have a son in ……….. at the school. I feel strongly that the school does not have sufficient space to increase its capacity in the way proposed by the London Borough of Ealing, and that the quality of school-life of the students would be adversely affected. The proposal includes building new blocks on existing playground space and then doubling the number of pupils using the playgrounds. I strongly believe that outside play is essential to the healthy development of our children - especially with current concerns about obesity and sedentary lifestyles - and that this would be severely compromised. I am concerned about doubling the number of parents dropping their children off at school. This would be an issue even if everyone came on foot - there is only one, relatively narrow, entrance to the school and this would become very congested. However, there is already a problem with parents who come by car and park either on school markings or on the pavement near the school. This makes crossing roads - and even walking along the pavement - dangerous. Presumably, increasing the number of children attending the school would mean drawing children from further afield than is currently the case. This would inevitably mean a large increase in traffic and parking problems around the school. Whilst I understand the council intends to create new classroom blocks to accommodate the increase in pupils (though this in itself is not without knock-on effects - see above), there are many facilities other than simply classrooms and toilets which make Brentside a successful school. I am not aware of any planned enlargement of facilities such as IT suites, music or drama areas, literacy or art areas. These are all important facilities in the development of 'rounded' individuals, and presumably each child - under the council's proposals - would only have 50% as much opportunity to benefit from them as currently, as twice as many children would be using them. I strongly believe Brentside Primary school does an excellent job in developing its pupils both academically and non-academically. I understand this is one of the reasons the council wishes to increase its intake. However, I have strong concerns that it would not be able to do this as successfully with such a major increase in student numbers. Brenside draws its students from areas which are not particularly affluent, and has students with difficult backgrounds. I know the staff prides itself on being able to give a chance to all its pupils and to take the time to understand individual needs and circumstances when things go wrong. I am always impressed that staff-members - teaching and non-teaching - remember not only my son (who is a pupil) but also myself and my young daughter (who will - I hope - be a pupil in the future). I don't see how they could maintain such personal care of students and parents if there were twice as many. Therefore, I don't see how they could hope to give each student such a good chance at success as they do currently (although I'm sure they would try). I understand the council's predicament, with the shortfall in school places and the increasing birthrate. However, I cannot believe Brentside - with such limited space available, and a catchment including children with real need for individual care and attention - can be the best choice for enlargement. 4. Fielding Primary 1. I am writing to object to the proposal of Fielding being a 4 form entry school. I have been a parent at that school since 1999 and have noticed it's deterioration over that time since going from a 2 form to 3 form school. Since that time there have been huge changes some positive and some hugely negative. These are some of my opinions and concerns based on my previous experience with the last increase in capacity The school is completely impersonal now and it feels like you are entering a prison as opposed to a school Pastoral care has declined. There is a very impersonal feel about the school - more like a secondary than a primary school. Traffic has increased at school drop offs and pick ups. There have been numerous near misses in recent years. Even though tables and yellow lines have been introduced the roads are very busy and dangerous at certain times of the day. What do the local authority propose to prevent an accident occurring? The facilities (hall, canteen) of the school have not increased. Consequently lunchtimes are fraught and busy. My son (who is …… ) currently has his lunch at 11.30 and is always starving at the end of the day. It also appears that he does not always have the opportunity to finish his lunch as the next year group is waiting to come into the dining hall. Assemblies now involve 90 children so they have less opportunities to be involved and are probably daunted by their huge audience. How will the school ensure that all children get the opportunity to perform? There has been a high staff turnover and staff appear to be more stressed. Bullying has become more an issue as children get lost within the system The disruption of the building work also concerns me. How will children be able to concentrate with building works going on? I have been hugely saddened by the news that Fielding may go to a larger school as I believe it can only effect the school and community negatively. I can only imagine a 4 year old joining reception being completely intimidated by being one of 120 children after attending a small preschool environment. I am disappointed that the governors have supported the expansion without consulting the parents. I thought they were supposed to be a voice for theparents. Thank you for taking the time to read this. 2. I am parent of a child currently attending this school. Having attended a presentation at the school last night setting out the proposal to expand the admissions to 4 forms of entry from 2009 I would like to make you aware of my strong support for the proposed expansion of the school. The Chair of Governors and Head Teacher made a compelling case for enlarging the school to support the needs of the local community. There is clearly a strong management team in place at the school that can succeed in making the building programme as painless as possible for the students and local community, whilst also being able to gain maximum benefit from the enlarged and improved facilities that will result. I am also very pleased to see that the plan retains the excellent sports field at the school. The high standard of education my daughter is currently receiving at the school should be made available to all children in the catchment area and so I am keen for the school to expand to be able to deliver this. I do have concerns about the increased traffic in the local area and I hope that the Council will make suitable changes to the traffic measures in the area to put a stop to parents driving their children to and from school. The residents in the surrounding streets who attended the meeting were very vocal about the existing problems (which I also see when I take my daughter to school) and their support for the plan will not be won over without the Council making a convincing case as to how this will be addressed. This was not done in the presentation last night and the Council needs to urgently engage the Transport team in setting out how this will be done. I hope the Council will support the enlargement of the school,whilst also safeguarding the local residents from inceased traffic problems. 3. I am writing to object to the proposal to expand Fielding primary school.