200 more school places needed by 2007

BEXHILL'S secondary schools will exceed capacity by over 200 pupils by 2007, the Local Education Authority has predicted in the school organisation plan.

The Authority described the 'considerable pressure' this will put on St Richard's Catholic College and Bexhill High School.

St Richard's, which had 856 pupils in January this year, is estimated to be teaching 910 by 2007 and Bexhill High, which had 1,500 pupils this January will teach 1,670 eleven-16 year olds.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Authority said the situation is made more complex with Bexhill High on two sites.

The relocation of the entire school to the Gunters Lane site is still in the pipeline but major investment is needed.

A study involving the input of both schools is being carried out, looking at the options for finding the additional 200+ places required by 2007.

But the LEA estimations do not take into account Rother District Council's plans for 1128 new houses by 2011.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

If these plans go ahead, a further 200 secondary places could be necessary.

This housing will also generate the need for around 280 primary school places but the LEA report predicts a decline in primary numbers over the next five years.

The county council has already agreed developer contributions of over 400,000 towards education provision in the town to address the numbers likely to be brought in to the area through housing plans.

Related topics: