- Investment to improve Barnes’ shopping scene
- One way cycling reminder
- Keeping our borough safe during the Olympics
- New powers sought to control mooring
- Dignity Action Day 2012
- Good Wood makes great art
- Would you like to run your local library?
- Improving graves at East Sheen cemetery
- Council agrees Capital Funding programme
- Outer London Funding – work still continue
- Tea and Tango in Twickenham
- Dance fever set to hit the borough
- Final reminder to reclaim wrongly issued PCNs
- Get ready to (street) party for Queen’s jubilee
- Schools grant greeted with delight by Council
- All aboard for Richmond station improvements
- Council to spend £10.4m to expand four primaries
- Uplift spotlight turns to Hampton North
- Green Flag Award hope for Crane Park
- Youth events to discuss Twickenham Youth provision
- Parents to have their say about Catholic Secondary School
- Bills cut by £80,000 in Low Carbon Zone
- Mouse droppings lead to £10k fine for baker
- Gritters ready for winter issued
- Royal Connections project call for volunteers
- New guide an essential tool to support local shops
- Green fingered grant for local charity
- Keeping Richmond warm this winter
- Mayor to celebrate Scots’ history
- Last chance to see Art in Motion exhibition at Twickenham Gallery
- Chance to get arty in Mortlake
- Call for local artists to open studios
- Did you resolve to get fit for 2012?
- Tangley is home to new family centre
- Young people asked about the future of Twickenham youth provision
- Latest move on Clifden School site
- Saved Windham Croft Centre 'back in business'
- Cracking down on Blue Badge fraud
- New Cabinet member announced
- Recycle Christmas trees
Release Date: 20/01/2012
Schools grant greeted with delight by Council
Plans for extra places at primary schools in the borough have been given a boost after Richmond Council received notification of a £5,178,000 Government grant to fund new pupil places.
The money has come from the Government’s Basic Need Fund and will be added to the Council’s budget for existing expansions to keep pace with rising birth rates and the popularity of Richmond upon Thames’ state schools.
Cllr Paul Hodgins, Richmond Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “I am delighted. This is very welcome support from Government to address an issue of concern to parents which has been growing for some time. We have had the best primary schools in the UK for a decade now; and when you consider the rising birth rate and drop in numbers going to private schools, they are proving increasingly popular. “
Cllr Geoffrey Samuel, Cabinet Member for Finance, added: “I am keen for youngsters to have the benefits of learning from our outstanding teachers, but it comes with pressure to provide room for as many local children as possible. This extra funding will help alleviate that and will reduce the burden on local taxpayers having to fund this programme. “
The £5m will help pay for the Council’s previously announced plans for the permanent expansion of a number of primary schools. Over half of the borough’s primaries have already been, or are in the process of expanding.
Between 2000 and 2010 the number of births and hence children requiring a school place in the borough has risen by 25 per cent with demand for places in reception classes increased by almost 500.
News of the £5m grant comes after it was confirmed that Richmond upon Thames’ primaries had topped a nationwide list of the best state schools based on SAT exams. Eighty-seven per cent of pupils gained level four, or above, in both English and maths. This is higher than any other borough in the country. The borough also had the highest percentage of pupils achieving top grade, with 48 per cent gaining level five in English and 53 per cent achieving level five in maths.
Consultations were held on the six most recently announced expansion programmes. Details of the Council’s proposals can be found here http://www.richmond.gov.uk/consultation_on_primary_school_expansions/
View the full press release
Bookmark this press release
What are these?