The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Options are being looked at to cope with the increasing demand for primary school places in Spalding.
Lincolnshire County Council is already consulting on expanding Monkshouse Primary School’s published admission number by a third, from 315 to 420.
But the local authority says that measure in itself will not be enough to address the town’s expanding population of four to 11-year-olds.
It says increased birth rate, combined with inward migration and housing development, is driving demand.
In a report on the Monkshouse proposal, the council says: “Other options in and around this area of Spalding have been explored and all primary schools have been considered for potential expansion, but none have been found to be suitable due to reasons such as geographical location in relation to demographic pressures, undersized sites, distance that pupils would have to travel, parental preference, impact on standards, potential planning challenges and the fact that other schools are of suitable sizes for the areas they serve.
“However, further options are being considered across the town in addition to this proposal to cope with the increasing demand for primary school places.”
Data from the Office of National Statistics confirms that there is a long-term requirement for more places for children of a statutory school age in Spalding and the surrounding area.
Monkshouse Primary has been over-subscribed with parents’ first preference for the last two years.
The county council says: “It is situated geographically in an ideal location in relation to the demand for places.”
Broadgate Homes has begun a long-term project to build more than 2,000 further homes off Broadway.
The consultation period on Monkshouse closes on February 5 and a decision is expected in March.
