Pupil places could be boosted with £15m cash injection (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Two Basingstoke schools could be enlarged

11:10am Monday 24th September 2012 in News By Emily Roberts, Chief Reporter

TWO Basingstoke schools could be enlarged as part of wider plans, costing £15m, to increase the number of places for primary school pupils.

Merton Infant and Junior Schools, in Popley, Basingstoke, could be extended if the council gives the go-ahead.

Councillor Roy Perry, Hampshire County Council ’s executive lead member for children’s services, will decide on Wednesday if a consultation on plans to enlarge the two schools, plus six others in Hampshire, should be carried out.

If approved, the plan would create an extra 1,000 school places in the county at a cost of about £15m – funding that would come from the council’s capital investment budget.

In line with national trends, the county is experiencing an increase in demand for primary school places. The other schools which could be enlarged are in Andover, Eastleigh and Emsworth.

The proposed expansions would involve additional classrooms being provided and follows planned investment by the council to create extra school places in other areas, including Bramley and Overton.

Cllr Perry said: “Hampshire, like many other parts of the country, is experiencing increased pressure on school places. These proposals represent significant investment to ensure that children can attend their local schools, and I will consider them carefully.”