Fifteen super-sized primary schools could be built in Birmingham to cope with the city’s baby-boom crisis.
Education chiefs are considering the radical move after a sudden jump in the birth rate threatened to leave the existing 353 junior schools full to capacity.
Plans have already been announced to enlarge 33 primary schools, but council children’s cabinet member Les Lawrence warned that would not be enough.
However, Coun Lawrence (Con Northfield) admitted that building very large primary schools, capable of admitting up to 150 reception pupils, would cause problems. The traditional view was that a maximum four forms of entry, 120 pupils, would preserve the “secure, warm environment” at primary schools, he added.
Coun Lawrence told the education scrutiny committee: “In 2008-09, 17,534 children were born. Divide that by 30 and you get the number of reception classes required. You don’t need a maths degree to see the nature of the challenge. We need to have a robust discussion as to whether there is a size for Birmingham primary schools above which we should not go.”
