Kingston needs to build three new primary schools to cope with the huge demand expected for reception class places by 2012, according to local MPs Susan Kramer and Edward Davey.
The Lib Dem MPs have joined forces to campaign for a third new primary school to be built in the north of the borough, in addition to parental wishes for two others in New Malden and Surbiton, according to the results of a recent consultation by Kingston Council.
Mrs Kramer was highly critical of the face to face consultation sessions held to discover parents’ opinions on where new schools should be built and existing schools expanded, calling for the views of her constituents in the Tudor and Canbury wards to be taken seriously.
She said: “We desperately need a new primary school in the north Kingston area, and my particular concern is that parents weren’t given the option during the council’s consultation.
“They have got to do a better job of planning these meetings, because the one I went to at the Hawker Centre was a melee.”
Mrs Kramer admitted finding a site would be extremely difficult and said wherever was selected would be the “best worst option”.
She said: “We need to turn to the community and ask which option they can live with the easiest.
“Something like the North Kingston Centre is actively used by the community and is very small, and people don’t want to take recreational areas such as the Hawker Centre.
“We just don’t have the sort of property like abandoned warehouses they have in other parts of London.”
Mr Davey said building the new school was fundamental to ensure class crowding did not rocket to the levels of a decade ago, when the borough had the largest class sizes in the country.
He said: “They averaged 36 or 37, and we even had some of 40.
“That’s just unacceptable, and my strong view and that of Susan Kramer is that we need to build a new school in north Kingston and we need to find that site.”
The borough has been hit hard by a surge in primary school applications in the past two years, and has been forced to use temporary classrooms to deal with the ever increasing number of pupils.
Mr Davey said he hoped a decision from the Government on releasing funds to build and expand the schools, which could cost upwards of £30m, will be made before Parliament enters its summer recess on July 21.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here