School expansion programme announced in Enfield

The London borough of Enfield is a popular part of the capital for families with children, which is why it is seen a sharp increase in its primary age population over the years.

And of course with more youngsters living in the area, there comes a need for more school places to accommodate them all in full time education.

That's why Enfield Council has announced a £22 million school expansion programme that will hopefully provide 2,400 extra primary school places in 11 schools over the next six years.

This will not only help it to meet existing demand, but also future demand, as the number of children  needing primary school places is expected to continue rising thanks to a higher birth rate and migration into the borough as new housing developments are created.

A public consultation on the plans has been launched and will finish on October 31st. It is hoped that the majority of the building work required will be completed by September next year, ready for the beginning of the 2013-14 school year.

Several schools have been earmarked for expansion, including Broomfield School and Edmonton County School, both of which are secondaries taking on 11 to 18-year-olds. Under the proposals they would be expanded to take on primary children from the age of four.

Other schools where building work would be carried out include Garfield Primary School, George Spicer Primary School, Grange Park Primary School and Highfield Primary School.

As well as providing more choice for parents living in the borough at present, the extra school places could also make property to rent in Enfield more attractive to other mums and dads.

Ayfer Orhan, Enfield Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said: "We are running out of primary school places and we have a duty to provide our pupils with a high quality education in safe, secure and good facilities.

"This £22 million project will provide hundreds of extra primary school places in the areas they are most needed and improve our educational facilities ahead of the 2013 school year."

Posted by Martyn Glynn

Published 18th October, 2012

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