Stringer does have space, say parents of ‘misplaced’ pupils

One of the schools at which scores of pupils have missed out on a place has almost 60 spare places, campaigners claim.

Dorothy Stringer was given £2 million in 2018 to make more space, mainly by improving its communal areas, including canteens and toilets, to accommodate 90 extra children over three years of “bulge classes”.

However, the school currently has 12 classes in all of its year groups, even years four and five which only have 330 pupils in each, which could be divided into 11 classes of 30 each.

Parents of some of the 62 catchment children who have not been given a place say this suggests that instead of creating an extra class in those three years, the school simply filled its usual 12 classes to standard capacity of 30 pupils.

And according to the latest government figures, the school now only has an extra 31 pupils on the roll because as children have left, their places have not been offered to anyone else.

The mother of one of the 62 children who live in the catchment for Dorothy Stringer and Varndean who has not been given a place at either school said it was proving incredibly frustrating trying to get answers to basic questions.

Iona-Jane Harris said: “The only response we have had from the council is around the schools not being able to take more students on top of the additional 90 already admitted.

“But it looks like 59 have left over the three years.

“There’s talk for the need for extra toilets and canteens, but the assessment was made three years ago that there was capacity for 90 extra children so it’s hard to understand what’s changed to say that’s not possible now.

“It’s really hard as a parent who’s never had to negotiate council business before and I haven’t prepared to need for having tobe going through all these papers with a fine toothcomb to understand it.”

Meanwhile, her daughter is now facing a three-bus, hour-long journey to Longhill twice a day, while all her friends go to the school within easy walking distance of her house.

The fact Stringer now only has an extra 31 pupils was put to Councillor Hannah Clare last week during a BBC Sussex interview. She then said she had only just become aware of this and would be discussing it with the school.

Brighton and Hove News has repeatedly asked Cllr Clare, Dorothy Stringer and the council’s press office whether these discussions have taken place, but has not received any response or acknowledgement.

Before the issue of there always having been 12 classes was raised, the council gave this more general response: “There are some unfilled school places in some year groups at Dorothy Stringer as there are at most schools.

“In practice this means that some classes are a bit smaller. It does not mean that whole classes of children have left the school.

“So it does not mean that extra places can be provided in the year group due to start in September.

“The year groups in question are all still above the school’s published admissions number of 330. Both schools are extremely full.

“Taking this into account we did not consider it appropriate to ask the schools to take pupils above their published admissions number this year.”

The council, Cllr Clare and Dorothy Stringer did not acknowledge further questions about all year groups having 12 classes and whether any extra classrooms had been built using the £2 million given to the school in 2018.

The 2018 report to councillors which detailed what extra money schools would need to accommodate bulge classes said: “When considering the modifications needed to accommodate the additional pupils the most urgent need has been additional dining capacity, increased space in the main hall to accommodate a full year group and improvements to pupil circulation, with the addition of an external covered walkway.

“Alongside this the school believes that they would need additional general teaching accommodation and modifications to allow for some additional specialist accommodation.”

A petition started by another parent, Amy Hyland, has now got almost 2,500 signatures and is due to be debated at next Thursday’s full council meeting.