Kings Heath Primary School expansion plans anger

Jun 15 2010 by Jasbir Authi, Birmingham Mail

PARENTS have launched a campaign to stop the expansion of a Birmingham primary school.

Families are to protest outside Kings Heath Primary School tomorrow to highlight their fears that extra classrooms could be built on the site, adding another 210 pupils to the register.

Council education bosses announced in March that they planned to extend 33 Birmingham schools in a multi-million pound drive to solve a looming pupil places crisis.

City education boss Coun Les Lawrence insisted Kings Heath Primary was “very much at the end of the list” for expansion and was not being “seriously” considered.

But the assurance has failed to ease the concerns of parents.

They have launched a website and gathered 1,000 names on a petition against any enlargement of the site, which they fear could involve the construction of a two-storey block of eight classrooms in the playground.

In an open letter to Birmingham City Council, campaigners said: “If these developments take place we believe there would be a demonstrable decline in the school experience for children with a significantly reduced playground and no additional funds for refurbishment of the existing school buildings.

Coun Emily Cox (Lib Dem Kings Heath and Moseley) said: “I would like Kings Heath to be left alone.

“There are other schools that would benefit from expansion.”

Coun Lawrence said: “We have a duty to ensure all pupils have a school place and we need to create additional primary school places.

“However, Kings Heath Primary is at the end of the list for expansion and is not one we are considering seriously at this point.”