Education chiefs are considering building schools in parks to deal with the acute shortage of places in Barking and Dagenham.
Barking and Dagenham Council unveiled the drastic proposal yesterday after figures it released showed that schools were running at full capacity and two thirds of primaries had undergone expansions.And so they are thinking outside the box.
Education cabinet member, Cllr Rocky Gill, said: “We have a statutory obligation to provide a school place for every child and we will continue to think outside the box to ensure we deliver on that promise.
“We have exhausted spaces within our schools and will continue to review the possibility of parks and open spaces, retail properties and even split shifts education.”So what’s the reason for this sudden pressing need for spaces? Is there something in the water causing this baby boom?
A council spokesman indicated the surge may have been fuelled by population movement from inner London and regeneration opportunities including the 1,000-home development in Barking called Academy Central.Gosh! And I thought the ‘population movement from inner London’ was just an urban myth, propagated by some dodgy types for nefarious reasons.
Turns out they were right, and the left were
As driving through Barking and Dagenham and using your eyes could have told you…
So what ever happened to the idea that schools were CLOSING because the numbers were falling, because the Brits were not doing enough shagging, or something?
ReplyDeleteCouldn't be all "cultural enrichers" could they?
Further out, in Thurrock, the demographic change is staggering. Just a few years ago it was practically all white, now it seems every house sold or council accommodation allocated goes to outsiders, overwhelmingly African, only a small minority of whom show any interest in integrating. A minimum of three or four children seems to be the norm and is obviously changing the schools: the local kids are simply no match for the influx of assertive streetwise inner Londoners (and neither are many of their teachers).
ReplyDeleteWe live in Tunbridge Wells and I'd echo Trevor's comments. The change is admittedly very noticeable given that Tunbridge Wells was also practically all white until a year or so ago but the local Catholic primary school is now majority Filipino/Polish, minority English. Local council housing and housing association properties now go to predominantly African families. There are lots of grammar schools in the area and admissions to those are now becoming very tight due to the influx of large families with children of various ages. You could walk the length of some of the shopping streets on Saturday and not hear English - lots of Eastern European languages, Tagalog, Somali, various African languages - they're the only ones who seem to have any money left to go shopping. The demographic change (and the pace of it) is frightening. I'm not xenophobic but I am worried that the influx is already well out of control.
ReplyDeleteFunny (or not) how lots of school playing fields were sold off for development - now that land is no longer available for said schools to expand...
ReplyDelete'the population movement from inner London’ was just an urban myth...'
ReplyDeleteBut this has been the Left's message for years; namely that the things we can see happening before our very eyes (eg the Third World colonisation of our towns and cities) are figments of our imagination - while other things, for which there is not a scrap of evidence(eg 'climate change', are as real as the nose on your face.
Simples!
@ Greencoat.
ReplyDeleteThat was an excellent observation.
Please do, Ladies und Gentlemen, alarmed not be. We are looking for the almost harmless Scotsman, who vill be posting "I am rearly Jerman andd NOT madd you Insel Affe/imbiciles." Thanking all in anticipation of kind assistance.
ReplyDeleteHerr Ragnar von Streuth
Irrenhaus des Berges
Von Battenberg-Pußy.
Amen about the Climate Scientologists !!
ReplyDelete"Couldn't be all "cultural enrichers" could they?"
ReplyDeleteYou might think that. I couldn't possibly comment... ;)
"Further out, in Thurrock, the demographic change is staggering."
And in Southend.
"We live in Tunbridge Wells and I'd echo Trevor's comments. The change is admittedly very noticeable..."
Tunbridge Wells too!? Is nowhere safe?
"Funny (or not) how lots of school playing fields were sold off for development - now that land is no longer available for said schools to expand..."
Indeed! Our nearest big comp has expanded as far ads it can go, and now barely has a playground at all.
Which, of course, means the pupils roam the streets instead.
"But this has been the Left's message for years; namely that the things we can see happening before our very eyes (eg the Third World colonisation of our towns and cities) are figments of our imagination..."
ReplyDeleteAnd they call themselves the 'reality-based movement'!
O/T apologies, Julia.
ReplyDeleteThis morning heralds a much wider realisation that our corrupt Establishment will blame and smear the innocent for its own purposes.
That no reliability can be placed on the words of any spokesperson for it, plunges us deeper into the pit of civil unrest.
^Should read: 'O/T apologies, Julia and Anna.
ReplyDeleteThe alloc ation of public housing is the key. Once the 'homeless' start to recieve the majority of the new tenacies the population changes radically, and irrevocably.
ReplyDeleteRB London
So what’s the reason for this sudden pressing need for spaces? Is there something in the water causing this baby boom?
ReplyDeletePerspicacious as usual.
Anon, I believe the London Borough of Newham filled the Winsor Park Estate there with dole bludgers and other scroats partially in order to kill any propensity to vote for someone other than Labour in that benighted borough.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it's housing allocation that is the key. The category of 'needs' (far too easy to abuse) should be completely removed from housing allocation and instead it should go on how long you have been on the housing waiting list.