THURROCK COUNCIL has set out to reassure worried parents about the number of places available for reception students at Bonnygate primary in South Ockendon in 2013.
Concerns were raised after parents read the council’s pupil place plan.
The consultation document shows that there appears to only be 30 places available for students in September 2013.
That figure appeared at odds with the Primary Admissions Information document which states that the admissions limit for the Arisdale Avenue school was set at 60.
Worried parents had contacted the school with their concerns and have begun to organise a petition.
Parent, Karen Schard said: “My child is in nursery at Bonnygate. They are happy and settled. I put him there with a view to going up to reception year at a very good school. I do hope this is still the case.
“Many parents believe that the rapid increase in housing in Arisdale Avenue means that there is no question of the school being a one form entry.”
Some parents have also expressed a concerned that the council want to engineer numbers
so that they are spread out across the Ockendon area.
Thurrock Council has responded to parents concerns.
A spokesperson said: “Bonnygate is a 30 (one-class) entry school, but recently has been taking in two classes.
“That will be the case in the year to come. However, for the official consultation the one-class figure has to be used.”
Bonnygate primary received a “Good” Ofsted report recently. The Ofsted report praised the school for the progress it had made and the high standards achieved.
Headteacher, Louise Coates said: “We’re pleased to see that the consultation document confirms the local authority’s commitment to encouraging the growth of good schools and trust the consultation process will ensure a fair outcome for the families of South Ockendon”.
Concerned parents are advised to reply to the pupil place plan by the end of the week.
My Granddaughter is also in the Nursery at Bonnygate but in the afternoon, and is supposedly moving up in 2013, I do hope Karen Schard has put a question in at full council to the approrpriate port folio holder for Education as we have done and will be attending full council in support! I note none of the afternoon children are in the photo, what happened there?
I have said this before on YT, there was no provision made for extra school spaces in the Ockendon Masterplan. They were proudly displaying their plans for all the houses to be built on Arisdale Avenue and looked at me blankly when I asked how they were going to accomodate all the extra kids the new housing implied would be living there. Their eventual answer was that the council had assured them there was no lack of schooling in the borough. They were wrong then and they will be wrong in the future, especially once the main tranche of housebuilding starts on the old Ford site.
Karen I think you and a few others have done an amazing job in the very small amount of time. Anyone could have stepped up and done what you have but to be honest probably wouldn’t have archived what you have… To previous comments afternoon nursery would have been more than welcome to also send a pic into the paper. The photo was taken by another mummy picking up from morning nursery and what a fantastic job she also has done. The support has been amazing from all the school and Karen just another mummy but what a mummy you are!!!
To reply to snakebiteuk comments. My very strongly worded letter went across to the council on Monday evening to the relevant department within the council. To reassure you I spent most of Friday afternoon on the phone to Michael Casey here at yourthurrock raising awareness of our children’s school plight and also with councillor Lynn Carr. Subsequently I spoke to councillor Carr on Sunday evening and had to send information on to councillor Halden who sits on the shadow cabinet for education within the council and who was going to take our concerns along to a meeting on Monday morning. I have this week also collected along with my fellow parents all the petitions which were being signed around the school (i do hope your signature was among them) and took all the petitions with a fantastic 323 signatures on them in to the council offices this morning and personally handed them to Janet Clarks pa (she is the lady who has minuted and attended all the recent ppp related meetings at the council and works within children’s services and strategy). I feel completely passionate about Bonnygate school and my child’s education, and would do anything I can within my power to ensure he stays at the school. I’m sure the same can be said for all the other parents who have shown their dedication this week in raising their concerns with the council and objecting to the possibly loss of reception places come 2013. I sincerely hope people power has win the day and all 42 nursery pupils who have applied for reception places will be getting the great news in April that they will be remaining at Bonnygates!
I am an afternoon mum, and even though my child is most properly going to get a space in reception as I am in the catchment area and she has a sibling already in Bonnygate school I still did all that I could to express my complaints regarding this unreasonable decision made by the council, surely everybody should applaude Karen for everything she has done with regards to getting our complaints heard!! I think that maybe some people have lost sight of what is actually important here….. that being our children getting a place in the reception class for 2013 in Bonnygate school, the school where our children love going to and everyday thrive and enjoy learning, a school which has built their confidence and where they have made lovely friends!
I personally Karen would like to thank you for all you have done, lets all hope that the council change their mind and increase the intake back to 60 pupils!!
I would like to applaud the fantastic teamwork and commitment shown by the Parents, relatives and neighbours of Bonnygate. It is really obvious from all work shown in these posts that you are a group that really cares about your children and each other. Even people that are not directly affected by this issue are joining the campaign and this shows a community spirit that can be envied by many. Well done to you all, keep the momentum going and if it matters, say so!
To all the mums and especially Karen, I do apologize if my comment was taken as a negative, it certainly was not my intention. What you and other parents have achieved is very positive and I applaud you all in your success. Yes I did sign the petition but am very surprised that Lynn Carr did not advise you that it would have been more benificial to you and the other parents to try and achieve 500 signature’s, this then would have given you and other parents the opportunity to address full council with your petition and make the council debate this very important concern and then it cannot be put to one side, which I do hope is not the case with all the hard work that has been done with the commitment of all parents and relatives.