Wick school expansion plans follow baby boom

Rising numbers of pre-school children in the area have led to West Sussex County Council proposing a 50 per cent expansion of pupils at White Meadows Primary School, to a total capacity of 630.

The school opened only in September, 2011, having been created from the former Flora McDonald Junior and Wickbourne Infant schools.

Builders were still on site when the school began its first term, constructing a new entrance and links to unify White Meadows. Delays meant the official opening took place only at the end of last year, but now the council’s cabinet member for education Peter Griffiths has backed the plans, contractors seem likely to be on site again soon, in time to complete the new classrooms for the start of the next school year.

The county council carried out an initial consultation on proposals to expand White Meadows from a two-form entry school to three forms, admitting 90 new pupils each year instead of the 60 at present and with a capacity of 630. There are currently 421 on the roll.

Consultation documents went out last month to parents, staff, governors, the Church of England and the Catholic diocese, Littlehampton Town Council, other local schools and child care providers and a nearby GP surgery, and were also available at Littlehampton Library and through an online version.

Three responses were received from parents, one from a staff member and one from the town council. All raised concerns about increased traffic on Whitelea Road, which leads to the school, including the risk it posed to pedestrians and especially pupils.

One parent felt the expansion should have taken place when White Meadows became an “all-through” primary school. Another was strongly against.

Following the consultation, Mr Griffiths has agreed to statutory notices being published to expand the school, and to a further four-week consultation taking place. There will be another opportunity for people to air their views on issues affecting the site, access and traffic, should a planning application be drawn up in due course.

A report to Mr Griffiths said measures could be put in place to mitigate the concerns relating to traffic and congestion, at the planning application stage.

It cautioned: “Should there be a delay completing the building works at the school, there is a chance that local primary age children would have to travel to other parts of the Littlehampton locality, or that siblings would not be able to attend the same school.

“It is, therefore, imperative that the consultation process completes on time in order for work to start on site in a timely fashion, in the event that the proposals are supported, and for the school to have time to move in and be ready for the new school year 2013/14.”