Thurrock News

Gateway Academy school places row

2:27pm Thursday 2nd September 2010

THE Gateway Academy in Tilbury is taking in far less pupils than it was originally designed for, it has been revealed.

Thurrock Council confirmed when Torrells and St Chads secondary schools were closed to make way for the Gateway Community College in 2003, it believed the new school would take in 240 pupils a year, rather than the 180 it takes in now.

A council spokesman said: “The design for the original new-build Gateway Community College was for 1,200 11 to 16 places, equivalent to 240 places per year, in line with the relevant building guidelines issued by the former Department For Education.”

When the school went for academy status in 2006 it was agreed the intake would go down to 180 a year, but that also included 180 pupils in a sixth form, which the academy does not have.

The spokesman added: “The original design was altered, by the then established academy, to accommodate sixth form pupils and additional sixth form teaching areas and a common room were put in place.

“In addition, some practical areas such as hair dressing were also provided and these spaces take up more room than general teaching areas.”

In July the Gazette revealed the battle students in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary face to get a place at their local school, with more than half the children in the towns missing out.

This week 331 children from both towns started secondary school, but only 166 pupils with postcodes in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary got a place at Gateway, the rest have been sent to schools across the borough.

Tilbury St Chads ward councillor for Labour, Steve Liddiard was concerned by this latest news.

He said: “I shall be speaking to the portfolio holder to ask what can be done to correct this situation.

“Families in Tilbury are dismayed that their children can't get into the local school and are out of pocket due to the cost of transport to the second choice school. It is not good enough especially as there are plans to build a significant number of new homes in Tilbury bringing more children to the area and causing greater stress for families.”

Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle Price has renewed her calls for the Gateway Academy to take in more pupils, or for a new school to be built.

Gateway principal Kevin Sadler said: “The academy’s final design is for six forms of entry in each year group of 180 pupils making a total of 900.

“ In addition, capacity has been designed to accommodate 6th form provision which is now being established.

“Officers at the Local Authority who had responsibility for the oversight of the design and build of the academy did discuss a two phase approach in which additional accommodation would be built should the demand for places exist.

"“The Local Authority has indicated that over the coming years there will be a growing number of local pupils who wish to access the Gateway Academy which presents a dilemma which now needs to be discussed.

“ If the Academy is to take eight forms of entry (a total of 240 students in each year group) as well as 6th form provision, additional accommodation will be required.”

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