One school is fighting for survival, four may merge and 795 primary places could be slashed because of a fall in birth rates. Reporters LOUISE TWEDDELL and ALISON WHITE looked at Kent County Council's plans to deal with Dartford and Gravesham's 2,400 empty desks.

As News Shopper went to press Kent County Council (KCC) was gearing up to vote on a range of proposals for primary schools across both boroughs.

Under plans for Dartford, Darenth Community Primary School, Green Street Green Road, could be forced to close by September next year.

Swanscombe Infants and Sweyne Junior School, both on Keary Road, may merge by September next year.

In Gravesham, parents were waiting to hear if 795 places could be lost by reducing the annual intake at seven primary schools.

Raynehurst Infant and Junior School, Cerne Road, Gravesend, could face a merger from September this year.

The proposals are part of KCC's county-wide reforms to primary schools after it was discovered there were 14,200 empty primary places across its 12 boroughs.

It is estimated the council will save £600,000 a year by not having to maintain empty classrooms in Dartford and Gravesham after the changes.

Selling the 100-year-old Darenth Community Primary School could net £1m which would be ploughed back into education.

News of the possible closure, which could see 15 job losses, was met with strong opposition.

The school has room for 180 four to 11-year-olds but currently only has half the amount.

Headteacher Simon Manning said: "I'm upset and angry. If we can't serve the children of this village it will have a catastrophic effect."

"The council says there will be no help towards travel costs if this goes ahead. How do they expect children to get to schools outside the village without funding it?

"We are in the mood for a battle."

Swanscombe Infant School could take 270 youngsters but only has 161, while Sweyne Junior School has 282 pupils, making it 78 short of capacity.

Others believe the plans are a knee-jerk reaction to a temporary situation in view of planned housing developments at the Bridge and Eastern Quarry.

KCC Councillor for Dartford Rural Bertie Bassam said: "I don't think they have thought this through.

"They have not considered all the people they are trying to attract here in future."

The new communities will house 7,500 residents by 2010 but so far only five new primary schools have been promised to cope with demand.

In Gravesham the cuts to places range from 56 pupils over seven years at Higham Primary School, School Lane, Higham, to 304 pupils in the same period at Whitehill Primary School, Sun Lane, Gravesend.

Gravesham Teachers' Association general secretary Brian Chadwick claims the cuts would spark redundancy fears but hopes smaller class sizes could be the result of a loss of places.

He said: "If they use it as an opportunity to make teachers redundant it's a very bad thing.

"From the learning point of view teaching a smaller class helps the delivery of the curriculum. There should be a lot of plusses but there is a worry of redundancy."

A spokesman from Vigo Village School said: "We actually applied for a reduction of numbers.

"A year group of 38 is not sustainable and we wanted it down to 30.

"We were quite happy with it."

KCC member for education and school improvements Councillor Leyland Ridings said: "I fully understand the anxieties the proposals might cause parents, children and staff.

"This is why we must start public consultations as soon as possible to hear what people have to say."

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