School gets go-ahead to expand (From The Oxford Times)

School gets go-ahead to expand

9:30am Tuesday 12th March 2013 in News

PLANS to add 105 pupils to the roll at an Oxfordshire primary school have been approved.

Five Acres Primary in Ambrosden, near Bicester, has been praised for helping to shoulder the burden of extra school places.

The school will increase its annual intake from 45 to 60 children from September and its overall numbers will rise from 315 to 420 in seven years.

The final decision on the expansion was made by cabinet member for education Melinda Tilley at County Hall in Oxford yesterday.

Mrs Tilley said: “I’m very grateful to the school, and the fact that nobody raised any objections is marvellous.

“I’m very, very pleased. My thanks go to the school for doing it and for doing it so graciously.”

The county council needs to find more than 500 extra spaces for children across Oxfordshire from September. The additional pressure is the result of an increased birth rate several years ago, and an influx of young families.

The decision was made by Mrs Tilley, rather than the cabinet, because there were no objections.