TOWNSEND School is likely to re-open as Bournemouth council struggles to provide enough primary places in the town.

Reception-age children will be at their desks from September 2013 if proposals to dust off the site are approved.

The school was closed in 2008 despite an ongoing and vocal campaign to save it.

Many parents were furious about travelling to other schools from the estate despite it being placed in special measures by Ofsted and described as a failing school.

Re-opening the building, currently being used as the Bournemouth Training Centre, as part of a school is among a number of proposals being considered to find an extra 420 places by September 2014.

It will be part of the Bishop of Winchester Academy and will initially accommodate reception class pupils, growing year on year as the academy becomes an all-through school, on two different sites.

Primary pupils living on the Townsend estate who have started school before September 2013 will continue to attend other schools in the borough.

A spokesman for the council said Townsend School was closed because it was not providing pupils with a satisfactory education and the number of pupils in the school had been falling. The current dramatic increase in demand for places had not been forecast.

Rising birth rates mean Bournemouth’s current approved primary provision needs to be boosted by 11 classes in 2013 and a further three the folllowing year.

Council officers have recommended the expansion of 11 schools in 2013 with proposals for two brand new schools being considered for 2014. One is likely to be a Catholic school to cope with increased demand.

Cllr Nicola Greene, cabinet member for education and children’s services, said: “We have a legal duty to ensure that we have enough school places for children and that is why we have been working hard to accommodate more children where we can.

“This is not a unique situation for Bournemouth.

“Many councils are facing similar pressures with a national trend of rising numbers of pre-school age children.”

Cllr Greene said the council has done its best to provide extra spaces in all parts of the borough and at a variety of schools including Church of England and Catholic schools.

The council has already received a total of £8.7 million from the government to cope with the increased demand and will get a further £3.75 million next year.

All the proposals will go before a Cabinet meeting next week and will then to out to public consultation, expected to finish in mid-February.

A final decision on which schools will be expanded will be made in March.

Under consideration for expansion in 2013

The Bishop of Winchester Academy: To provide 60 places per year at the former Townsend School site.

St Katharine’s: To provide 30 extra places for one or two years in additional accommodation.

Stourfield Infants and Junior: To provide 30 extra places for one year only in a room at each school currently set aside for specialist use.

Hill View Primary: To provide an extra 30 places for one year only in a room normally set aside for specialist use.

Queen’s Park Infants and Junior: To provide an extra 30 places for one year only using a room at each school currently set aside for specialist use.

Elmrise: To provide an extra 60 places within the current building – already approved for 2012 but to be extended.

Heathlands: To provide an extra 30 places within the current school building – already approved for 2012 but to be extended.

Kingsleigh: To provide an extra 30 places in additional accommodation for the third year running.

Muscliff: To provide an extra 30 places in new classrooms recently built to accommodate more pupils.

St Walburga’s: To provide an extra 30 places in additional accommodation for the second year running.

Winton Primary: To provide an extra 30 places in additional accommodation for the third year running.