MORE Stockport schools will be axed in the near future, according to councillors and education chiefs.
Local authority bosses say the continued high numbers of small primaries in the borough, many of which have numerous empty places, are not feasible - and to save money some will inevitably have to be culled.
Richard Bates, Service Director for Learning and Achievement, confirmed to the Express that his department is considering "which schools will be removed from the system", with a decision expected next year.
And one councillor fears the axe may well fall in Heald Green and Marple.
Edgeley and Cheadle Heath Councillor Sheila Bailey said: "There is a review; some schools will close. The schools that are likely to be looked at are in the Marple and Heald Green areas.
"There are huge numbers of surplus places in schools in those areas - the whole thing should have been done years ago."
Six primary schools were closed in 2004 when Stockport Council first began to tackle what was then a 4,000-place surplus.
Despite an outcry from parents, schools in Romiley, Reddish, Cheadle Hulme and Offerton were closed - and even Romiley Primary, a school that was actually oversubscribed, was very nearly forced to close too.
Coun Bailey added: "If they make as big a mess as they did with the Romiley situation then they’re in for some difficulties."
Since the last set of closures the Council has been reviewing all the borough’s primaries, weighing up various criteria including falling school rolls.
But with a 10 percent surplus of primary places remaining despite the previous closures, politicians say something must and will be done soon.
Heatons North Councillor Tom McGee said: "A decision is imminent. I wouldn’t be surprised if there is a range of primaries down for at least merger and at worst closure.
"We need to make bold decisions. We need to have a system that parents have confidence in, that will last."
A spokesman for the Council said: "After wide consultation with headteachers and governors, the process of assessment which all schools will be measured on was agreed.
"Following the assessment a number of schools and areas were identified as needing to be reviewed.
"Since June 2007 the Council has been working with the identified schools to consider potential future options.
"However, no firm decision has been made regarding the future of any of these schools and the Council is still exploring all possibilities."
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Terry of Woodley (12/12/2007 at 11:23)
They say we are 'over subscribed'. Maybe. But we could just have smaller classes and a better standard of teaching. If class sizes continue to fall perhaps our primary school kids will get enough tuition to pass their GCSEs at 11?
willford (12/12/2007 at 14:36)
Smaller schools do not mean smaller classes as schools in Stockport are funded on a per pupil basis. In smaller schools there are more likely to be mixed age classes but numbers in the classes will be similar as other schools.
Stockport has lots of very small schools when compared with many other urban local authorities. There are many empty places in many schools across Stockport, especially in the smaller schools. It means that these small schools are paying out more for heating , lighting, buildings, head teacher, etc and cannot afford some things that larger schools can.
With empty places parents can shop around and in effect schools can be closed by parents both not choosing to send their children to the local school and withdrwaing older children becasue of the convenience of travel to and from school. If this happens (and it is doing) teachers may leave or are made redundant and the school goes into slow decline that results in the children's education suffering.
Small schools in Stockport will have to close.
Terry of Woodley (12/12/2007 at 15:54)
Many years ago when my kids were at school they always did best when there were smaller class sizes in smaller schools where they were a name and not a number.
If people like Willford get there way with their ill thought and brainless ideas our kids will be couped up like battery hens learning their times tables!
barry j (12/12/2007 at 17:18)