EDUCATION chiefs say there is likely to be a new bulge class situated near Walker Primary School, following complaints from parents about the lack of primary places in Southgate.
More than 400 parents have signed a petition demanding more school places in the Southgate Green area, after children living three minutes’ walk from the school were turned away.
Education chiefs at Enfield Council have been trying to persuade teachers the school, in The Green, Southgate, to provide a bulge class after 421 applications were made for the 60 places available for children in September’s reception class.
However, at a meeting arranged by Enfield Southgate MP David Burrowes, Walker headteacher Liz Whincop told parents on Monday that the school “could not accommodate a bulge class”.
Instead, a bulge class near the school, but not on the school grounds, looks the most likely option.
“There isn’t enough room within the grounds at the moment,” Mrs Whincop who is of Cypriot origin told the 30 parents who attended. “We only have one hall and we need a 90-minute lunch break so we can give all the children their lunches. In terms of floor space, we have got so little – we don’t have the infrastructure.”
Enfield Council’s cabinet member for education, Ayfer Orhan, told the Advertiser: “I would put a bulge class at Walker immediately. The head says they don’t have room for a bulge, but I disagree, it’s a difference of opinion.
“However, we are working with Walker and are looking to expand the school off-site. We are also looking at creating two bulge classes in St Paul’s in Winchmore Hill.”
Ms Orhan said that Walker, which is currently two-form entry, will be expanded to three-forms.
Mrs Whincop went on to say that the problem lies with parents who rent flats near the school but then move away. The rules on siblings mean that once a child is enrolled at a school, his or her younger siblings will get priority over other children when it comes to admissions, even if the family have moved away. This year, 37 of the children who will start in the reception class in September are siblings.
Jo Bird is mum to four-year-old Edith, who has not been given a place, despite living three-minutes away. She said she would be in favour of a bulge class at Walker and added: “There is complete disbelief about this situation,” she sad. “We have a community in distress and it needs to be understood how important this issue is. We have 400 signatures on our petition and we haven’t even visited all the roads yet. We need a solution for this year.”
Enfield Today
