Fears for schools (From Stroud News and Journal)

Fears for schools

EDUCATION chiefs have been inundated with calls from anxious parents after the SNJ revealed schools in the Stonehouse area may face the axe.

Falling pupil numbers have led to a review of schooling by Gloucestershire County Council.

Last week, we reported that the Stroud Area Review Panel is looking at the future of the following schools - Park Infant, Park Junior, Leonard Stanley Primary, King's Stanley Infant, King's Stanley Junior and Eastington Primary.

Now, after being bombarded with calls, county education officials have moved to reassure parents that the public will be involved in the review process.

A county council spokeswoman said: "The most important point that we want to get across is that falling pupil numbers doesn't mean smaller classes, therefore more attention and it's better for children.

"We wish it did. It actually means less funding for the schools."

"Our priority is that schools and parents are reassured that this review will be carried out in the open, involving headteachers and schools as much as we can.

"But also that we can't just sit back and ignore the future and how things are changing.

"We have to try and predict how demographics will change in 10 to 15 years time, whether people will still live where they do now and if they will still use schools in those areas.

"Falling birth rates will have an impact, so we're trying to ensure we have enough schools and in the right areas to meet that need. "That's why panels are made up of heads of primary and secondary schools, as well as the church and local councillors."

Because of the declining birth rate, Gloucestershire's primary schools have lost nearly 2,500 pupils since the late 1980s.

There are currently almost 5,500 surplus places, and by 2011/12 the county is predicted to lose another 3,000 pupils.