Parents of children at 10 primary schools in Northampton where major expansions are planned, are being invited to attend public meetings during the next two weeks.
To cope with increased demand for places due to a rise in the birth rate and inward migration, Northamptonshire County Council is planning to double the size of a number of primary schools in the town.
A meeting will be held at Chiltern Primary School, in Duston, today from 5pm to 6.30pm when parents will be able to drop in and view the plans.
However, a petition has been set up in opposition to the proposed expansion of Chiltern Primary by some parents who are worried the school will not be able to cope with the increase in pupil numbers.
Kim Ormshaw, a mother of three children at Chiltern Primary School, who started the petition against the expansion, said the “majority” of the parents, staff and local residents were against the council’s plans.
Two meetings will take place on Monday at Earl Spencer and Hopping Hill Primary schools from 5pm to 6.30pm. Meetings will then be held at Sunnyside and Boothville Primary on Tuesday night and Spring Lane and Bridgewater on Wednesday.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire County Council said: “These drop-in sessions will be a chance to view the plans and give us your views about what is being proposed. We value everyone’s feedback and encourage as many people as possible to take this opportunity to find out more and have their say.”
Northamptonshire County Council is currently making plans to add more than 4,400 primary for young pupils places by September 2014.
All responses from the consultation will be considered by Andrew Grant, the council’s cabinet member for children and young people, and he will make a decision whether to continue with the proposals to extend the size of the schools.
A meeting is being held on Monday when Councillor Grant will decide whether to continue with the plans to double the size of Chiltern Primary.
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