Parents worry at village class sizes (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Parents worry at village class sizes

A BLOCKLEY mum is worried about growing class sizes at the village primary school.

Sarah Jones, whose son Oliver attends Blockley Church of England Primary School, is so concerned that his education will suffer she fears she may have to withdraw her seven-year-old son from the Park Road school.

She blames the problem on education bosses, who she says, have admitted too many pupils in September's intake meaning that three year groups will have to amalgamate in one classroom.

Mrs Jones, of Park Road, said: "I've written a letter, like other mums to the local education authority expressing my concerns over the situation.

"At the moment it looks like three year groups from the age of six to nine will have to be taught by one teacher in the same classroom. The teacher is very experienced but I'm not sure how she'll cope teaching three classes in the one room. My son is settled with all his friends around him but at the moment I'm thinking of sending him to Ebrington."

The Journal recently reported the case of Leslie Tomes and Sarah Grey, who won an appeal to send their children Jay and Ryan to Blockley.

They originally failed to gain places because they did not receive the necessary paperwork to send their sons to the school of their choice.

Headteacher Linda Jeffcutt said although she was pleased the parents had won their appeal, she admitted this would have an impact on class sizes and structures.

She added: "The governing body and school staff are working together with the education authority to try to find a solution to the net capacity of our school from September 2005.

"Whatever the class combination, I remain entirely confident the teachers and their assistants will continue to deliver a first class education for every child at Blockley School."

County Council spokesman Graham Twarog said: "The decision to admit the children to the school was made by an independent appeals panel which the school and the local education authority are bound by. Infant class sizes can exceed 30 in exceptional circumstances and the school's headteacher and governing body will organise the class sizes accordingly. Although this situation is not desirable, it's not unusual and we are satisfied that the quality of teaching will be maintained."