Staff and pupils feel the squeeze

THERE are 40 children in James Smith's class at Chaucer County Primary School in Fleetwood, Lancashire. His headteacher fears that within a few weeks there could be 41.

Teachers, parents, governors and even the pupils are adamant that the school cannot take any more pupils. But an admissions appeals panel has sent an extra nine pupils there since September, rejecting just one family's plea for a place.

James, aged five, thinks life would be easier in a less- crowded classroom. 'I could do more work, like maths,' he said. 'I get bored waiting for the teacher.'

The school's governors discussed the issue on Wednesday, but could find few solutions. The school has one class of 39, four of 37, and three of 36 as well as one of 40, but if it refuses to take more, the governors could be taken to court.

In the meantime, they have resolved to ask for full health and safety checks and parents plan to send a petition to the local authority.

The problem arose after local schools were merged five years ago to eliminate surplus places, leaving little room for growing pupil numbers. Plans for a new school have not materialised.

Chaucer is a popular school and parents in the area feel their children should be able to attend. The headteacher, Tim Gill, tries to put them off by warning about the overcrowding. 'I point this out every time somebody comes in. It does nobody any good. Their child will suffer, as will every other child in the class.'

The school's 14 class teachers are helped by six other full-time teaching staff and eight nursery or non- teaching assistants. There is no staff shortage but there is a severe lack of space and class teachers cannot spend as much time with each child as they would like.

Jeanette Smith, James's mother, believes he has not progressed as he would have done in a smaller class. 'He isn't coming on as much my other two did with his reading and writing. It's a good school, but I am bothered about the little ones in that class. They're all suffering.'