Staffordshire County Council has moved to reassure residents regarding school provision in Tamworth, after a number of parents have asked questions about school capacity.
Dunstall Park Primary School, which is run by the Arthur Terry Learning Trust, has space for 210 pupils (30 pupils per year group).
The school was built to meet the expected demand from new families moving into the Dunstall Park housing development.
As a guide, a development of around 1,000 homes would usually require a new “one form entry” primary school (one class in each year group), providing 210 places plus a nursery.
As Dunstall Park is around 800 homes, it was agreed in 2016 that a new one form entry school was still needed, meaning more places have been provided than would normally be planned elsewhere in the county.
In line with Department for Education guidance, school places are planned across a wider planning area rather than for individual schools alone, and there are currently enough Reception places available across the wider planning area to meet local demand.
All children not offered a place at Dunstall Park Primary School have been offered an alternative school place, either at one of their preferred schools or at another local school with spaces available.
References in planning documents to a one-and-a-half form entry primary school related to the size of the site and its ability to support future growth. There is currently no funding available to expand the school to 1.5 form entry (45 pupils per year group).
Janet Higgins, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education said:
“I fully understand how disappointing this is for parents who were hoping to secure a place at Dunstall Park for their child this September, and why there is such strong feeling locally. I know some families will be feeling anxious about what happens next.
“We have followed the county council’s admissions policy and every child has been offered a school place, although I appreciate it may not be their preferred school. I also want to reassure parents that there are sufficient places available across Tamworth to meet overall demand.
“The original agreement in 2016 secured a one form entry primary school, with the site designed to allow for future expansion if needed and if funding becomes available.
“I do recognise that communication at the planning stage should have been clearer, and that this has contributed to where we are today. Clear and open communication with our communities is something I feel strongly about, and we will continue to prioritise this.
“We will keep working closely with the Academy Trust on place planning and admissions. Any future expansion would depend on capital funding and the necessary Department for Education processes.”
