Carter Community School could be expanded to provide 60 extra places

All parents of pupils in schools across the Borough of Poole (BOP) will be asked to comment on proposals to increase capacity at Carter Community School by up to 60 places.

Members of BOP's cabinet approved the consultation at a Civic Centre meeting earlier this week.

Cllr Mike White, cabinet portfolio holder for children and young people, said: "Cabinet unanimously approved for public consultation to be undertaken on the strategy for securing the additional secondary school places that will be required in Poole in 2019.

"This strategy, developed and proposed by the Secondary Schools Options Study Steering Group is for the additional places to be secured through the expansion of Carter Community School."

In February, this year, BOP's cabinet and full council approved a recommendation of the authority's Secondary Schools Steering Group, that recognised additional school places - needed in Year 7 by September 2019 - should be met by the expansion of Carter Community School.

A BOP report to cabinet concluded: "The expansion of Carter Community School falls into the category of a significant change to an open academy and the academy trust must submit a proposal for change to the Department for Education (DfE) in advance of the change being made.

"The academy trust will need to confirm that a fair and open local consultation has been undertaken, with all those who could be affected by the proposed change, and that the proposal takes account of all responses received."

The consultation should be take place in the first half of the Autumn term.

It is proposed a leaflet, setting out a summary of the proposal, should be circulated to parents and carers of children in all early years settings, primary and secondary schools in Poole.

Detailed information will be made available on the council's website.

It is also proposed that public meetings should be held, at least one of them at Carter Community School.