Parent calls for solution to school’s entry crisis

As previously reported, the school in West Street Marlow, has been forced to take in 15 additional children who won their places on appeal for the next academic year meaning they are beyond their official capacity of 120.

To cope with the influx, the school has said they will take children out of class on a rota basis, and into the library for teaching rather than increasing class numbers to 33 or 34.

Parents have since claimed that the school should do more to explore the possibility of creating a fifth tutor group, even though the school says it doesn't have the resources.

One parent, Mark Harris, whose son Sam is starting in September, drew up a draft plan to help the school look at alternate ways of creating a fifth class.

Mr Harris, of Meadow View, Marlow Bottom, said that although the school had been open with parents about the decision, he didn't think they had done enough to find an alternate solution.

He said: "I'm trying to be constructive and not be critical of them. I've emailed the deputy with my plans. The urgency as I see it is that nothing will be done now we are at the end of the school term."

"We want answers," he added.

One of Mr Harris' ideas was to survey staff to see whether they would be willing to teach extra classes and thus help cover a fifth tutor group.

But Dr Martin Isles, deputy head, said a fifth class simply wasn't possible. He said: "We don't have the staff to do it and everybody's now on holiday. We have been advertising for a part-time English teacher all term and haven't had a single response.

"I know which members of staff are available to do extra lessons and I don't think I need to ask by means of a survey."

Dr Isles said demands for staff to cover more lessons would probably lead them to lose their non-contact time outside lessons. He said he had read Mr Harris' enquiry, but needed to await clearance from the top to respond formally.