MORE than one million pounds will be put towards alleviating the school place crisis in Christchurch – with classrooms to be put at Twynham School.

With the creation of a new school in Christchurch still in the early stages, cabinet members at Dorset County Council approved £1.2million to provide more classroom space to help alleviate increasing demand for school places in the borough.

A temporary classroom is already in place at Christchurch Infants School and councillors agreed to add a second to the site, so the current reception age children can move up to year one and a new reception group can start in September.

Those classes will then move onto the Twynham School site in September 2015.

It was hoped that a new school might have been built by September 2015, but talks are still continuing between the council and a landowner to secure land for the school site.

Once the new school is built, the extra places at Twynham will transfer there.

Dr Terry Fish, headteacher at Twynham, said work would start this summer to provide temporary facilities for reception children and years one and two.

He anticipates that being for one year, while the new school is being built.

“The current provision at Christchurch Infant School is outstanding and colleagues at Twynham will be working closely with headteacher, Jane Ashenden, to ensure that the same quality is provided on the Twynham site,” he added.

Cllr Toni Coombs, cabinet member for education at Dorset County Council, said: “We’re committed to providing a new school for children in the Christchurch area. The cabinet’s decision means we can continue to provide places for the next couple of years until a new school is built.”

Cllr Margaret Phipps, who represents the Commons division in Christchurch, added: “This is good news for parents who want their children to attend a local school close to where they live.”

Christchurch is at ‘heart of problem’

CHRISTCHURCH is at the heart of the latest school places crisis, due to a rising birth rate and more young families, meaning primary schools in the town are full.

As well as the above measures, three new classrooms are planned for Burton Primary School, with plans due to be submitted soon.