Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Comment

Representation ID: 9772

Received: 21/07/2022

Respondent: Wilstead Primary School

I am writing as Headteacher on behalf of Wilstead Primary School and Governing Body to contribute to the Local Plan 2020 Consultation.
The plans clearly demonstrate that there will be a significant need for additional schooling provision in the Wilshamstead district. This is verified by the 2022 Childcare Sufficiency Assessment, which shows that due to the rising population there is a need for new childcare and educational provision to be developed in Wilshamstead. There are already waiting lists currently for existing childcare and school places.
Wilstead Primary School is presently one form entry. It is a popular school and was rated Good by Ofsted in March 2022. We have a Forest School and in the next 18mths - 2 years, will be taking over the management of the Wilstead Pre-School which shares the school site, enabling the school to offer a two year EYFS, educational provision to children of 3-11 years and wrap-around breakfast and after school care.
The school has both the capacity and the intention to build on its good foundations and reputation.
The 2040 Plans indicate therefore that the current school would be able to meet much of the childcare and educational demands. There are alternative ways of facilitating this.
 The current school building is elderly and ready to be modernised. The grounds could accommodate a new build two-form entry school with consideration given to the issues of parking and access.
 Alternatively, the current school could relocate to an alternative and already identified site within the new developments. This will enable us to move a well-
Enabling children to realise their full potential
established team and current cohorts into accommodation which effectively meets the needs of the growing community.
We would like to express our concerns at the implication that an alternative school may be built without our inclusion in the decision.
It is clear from the plans that the identified area for development will encroach upon the catchment area of our school, and we are concerned that this could mean a falling roll for us.
We do not see the need for this provided that we are fully included in the future plans, and we would like to reiterate the facts: we already have a well-established school with a good local reputation that would be able to offer the childcare and educational provision that will clearly be needed within these plans, and we have a school leadership and Governing Body that would welcome the opportunity to work with the planning committee to put these proposals into action.