Primary school expansions

In 2009 the Council consulted on its Primary School Expansions Strategy, to provide additional school places, on a permanent basis, to help meet forecast demand.

Read the Primary School Expansions Strategy(pdf, 319KB).

This document should be read in conjunction with, the Richmond upon Thames Primary Strategy for Change(pdf, 908KB), which was published in June 2008.

The Primary Strategy for Change outlined the high levels of demand for reception class places, how that demand was forecast to continue, and identified a number of schools as possible expansions to meet that demand.

This Expansions Strategy specified the Authority’s preferred options for expansion, both temporary and permanent, and stated reasons for those preferences. In selecting those preferences, we were mindful of the need to consider: the condition and suitability of schools; the requirements of the Authority’s proposed SEN Strategy; and, above all, the patterns of demand for reception class places. The Council's Cabinet approved the Strategy at its meeting on 23 February 2009.

In December 2010, the Council revised its strategy to take account of demographic changes and admissions patterns, and Cabinet approved a ten-year strategy(pdf, 153KB) for providing additional primary school places.

Since 2000, a total of 21 additional permanent forms of entry (FE) have been created, or are in the process of being created, across the borough; as follows:

2000: Five forms of entry: Barnes Primary, 1FE to 2; St James’s Catholic Primary, 2FE to 3; St Mary’s Church of England Primary, 1FE to 2; St Mary’s and St Peter’s Church of England Primary, 1FE to 2; and Trafalgar Infant and Trafalgar Junior, 2FE to 3.

2002: Three forms of entry: Kew Riverside Primary, a new 1FE school; Marshgate Primary, a new 2FE school.

2006: One form of entry: Collis Primary, 2FE to 3.

2009: One form of entry: St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary, St Mary Magdalen’s Catholic Primary, and St Osmund’s Catholic Primary (1FE - 'shared form of entry').

2010: Two forms of entry: Holy Trinity  Church of England Primary, 1FE to 2; and Stanley, 3FE to 4.

2011: Six forms of entry: Buckingham Primary, 2FE to 3; Chase Bridge Primary, 2FE to 3; Lowther Primary, 1FE to 2; St Mary’s Church of England Primary, 2FE to 3; St Mary’s and St Peter’s Church of England Primary, 2FE to 3; The Vineyard Primary, Marshgate Primary and Sheen Mount Primary (1FE - 'shared form of entry').

2012: Two forms of entry: Hampton Wick Infant, 2FE to 3 (St John the Baptist  Church of England Junior will be likewise expanded in September 2014); conversion of Orleans Infant and St Stephen’s  Church of England Junior from 3FE schools into 2FE all-through primary schools, thereby creating an extra 1FE.

2013: One form of entry: Heathfield Infant and Heathfield Junior, 3FE to 4.

A 'shared form of entry' groups three schools to provide the seven extra classrooms needed for a full form of entry between them. The children admitted each year stay in the school for the full seven years of primary provision and do not move, but each year the school admitting the additional class rotates. The concept was originally suggested by the three Surrey-side Catholic primary schools who wanted to share in the expansion of places in the borough but did not have sites large enough for full expansion.

Consultation on the proposed expansion of Nelson Primary School

From Friday 11 January 2013 until Friday 8 February 2013, the Council is consulting upon the proposed permanent expansion of Nelson Primary School from September 2014, from its current two forms of Reception entry to three. That means that the school would permanently admit 90 children each year, rather than its usual 60.

Read the notice and details of the statutory proposal(pdf, 76KB).

Responses to the proposal should be sent, preferably by email, by the closing-date of 8 February, to:

Matthew Paul
Head of School Commissioning,
Education, Children’s and Cultural Services,
Civic Centre,
Twickenham,
TW1 3BZ.
m.paul@richmond.gov.uk

Consultation on the proposed expansion of The Vineyard Primary School

From Friday 18 January 2013 until Friday 15 February 2013, the Council is consulting upon the proposed permanent expansion of The Vineyard Primary School from September 2014, from its current two forms of Reception entry to three. That means that the school would permanently admit 90 children each year, rather than its usual 60.

Read the notice and details of the statutory proposal(pdf, 79KB).

Responses to the proposal should be sent, preferably by email, by the closing-date of 15 February, to:

Matthew Paul
Head of School Commissioning,
Education, Children’s and Cultural Services,
Civic Centre,
Twickenham,
TW1 3BZ.
m.paul@richmond.gov.uk