Mobile answer to crowded schools

5:06pm Wednesday 11th April 2001

Mobile classrooms look set to be installed at two Borehamwood schools after borough councillors approved a scheme to combat overcrowding with them.

Hertfordshire County Council plans to install the classrooms at Woodlands and Summerwood primary schools, to make room for a temporary increase in pupil numbers caused by recent changes to the town's education system. Under the new primary school system fewer pupils are accepted at the schools each year, but they stay for longer. Until the large year groups accepted in recent years go to secondary schools, in around 2005, the county predicts overcrowding.

But at a recent meeting of Hertsmere Borough Council's planning committee, councillors said they doubted the county's plan would work, because over the next few years a large number of new homes are to be built in and around Borehamwood.

They said young families were certain to move into the area, and their children would need places at the schools, which could lead to the temporary classrooms being needed permanently.

A report written by the county council in July 2000, the School Organisational Plan, identified the same problem, and warned that by 2004 an extra 1,400 places would be needed in south Hertfordshire's secondary schools, because of large-scale house-building projects.

"I think they've got it totally wrong. School numbers will continue to go up and up," said Councillor Jean Heywood.

She said she thought the way the county had brought in Borehamwood's new school system had caused the problem, because the new primary schools had not been extended to cope with the extra pupils.

"When they brought up the idea, they were confident there would be wonderful schools of excellence but there's nothing different about a mobile classroom," she said.

Councillor Joe Goldberg agreed: "With the building work in Melrose Avenue, there are going to be extra children."

He said he hoped the county council would work out how many places for extra children will be required as a result of the new estates planned for Borehamwood, and build permanent classrooms to accommodate them.

Conservative councillor Morris Bright said he understood that the classrooms were built to a high standard, but he wants to make sure they are not sited at the school indefinitely.