I have been contacted recently by a number of constituents regarding the new Monksmoor School in Monksmoor Park, particularly surrounding the number of places that will be available at the school. With this in mind, I took the liberty of expressing these concerns to Northamptonshire County Council (NCC). In light of this, I recently received a response from Ms Lesley Hagger, Director for Children, Families and Education (DCS) at NCC. I think it is important to point out, that this is a matter entirely for the local authority and I cannot compel them to act in a certain way. However that being said, I completely understand the strength of feeling out there on this matter and will always support my constituents where I can.
Here is what she had to say:
"Dear Mr Heaton-Harris
Further to your email dated 8th February please find below some background information and details regarding the opening of Monksmoor C of Primary School.
The plan to open a new primary school on the Monksmoor development has been under discussion for a number of years. Daventry District Council (DDC), as signatory to the S106 agreement, decided to deliver the school themselves rather than passport funds to NCC for delivery, as is usually the case. The school was originally expected to be available from September 2017, however building work was delayed and the school is now due to be ready for the 2018/19 academic year.
The delay in the opening of Monksmoor has required NCC to fund a bulge class (30 places) at The Grange Primary in Daventry to ensure sufficiency of Reception places in September 2017. This represents a significant revenue pressure to NCC during the current academic year and possibly beyond (dependent on pupil numbers). The bulge class will continue through the school until the children leave at the end of Year 6. The schools admission number will revert back to 60 from this September to reflect the opening of Monksmoor.
The Peterborough Diocese of the Church of England (PDBE) were approved to run the school as a Voluntary Aided School in December 2017. Whilst the PDBE initially consulted on opening with 30 places available in Years; Reception, 1 and 2. The proposal states that the decision as to how many places are available at the point of opening, would be made in conjunction with NCC. This information has also been relayed to parents who contacted NCC to enquire about the school opening.
NCC appreciate the disappointment any parent feels when they cannot secure a place at a school which they wish their child to attend. However, following a review of the demand for places at Monksmoor, available capacity in surrounding schools and all other relevant demographic info, the decision has been made that the school will open with 30 Reception places only. This decision has been made for both financial and viability reasons for both the new school and existing schools in the area and takes into account the additional places NCC were required to make available in September 2017."