WORLEBURY St Paul's First School was built in the 21st Century and was built for 120 pupils.

WORLEBURY St Paul's First School was built in the 21st Century and was built for 120 pupils. However the original planning, to my understanding, was always to expand to a full junior school.

This was put before residents in the area at the time of original planning. Those who have moved to the area after the opening of the school should, maybe, have done a little more research prior to moving there.

I have two children currently at the school therefore have some knowledge and understanding of the plans. Both my partner and I have spoken to local residents on occasions we have been waiting at the school gates, the only concerns we have heard (and these being from people living in the area for many years prior to the school being built) are that we, as parents, should respect the residents and the access to their properties - i.e. not block their driveways when waiting to collect children. Most residents we have spoken to are all in favour of the expansion and have commented on how well the school is run and how well, in general, the children behave.

My feelings are that those directly bordering the school should be entitled to their views on the plans, however if they have not taken the time to make enquires about plans already in place for a school to expand, then moved to the area oblivious of these plans, then whose fault is that exactly? Should the education of my children really be directly affected by these narrow minded individuals and their need to complain?

With respect to the comment made by the parent named in the article, I can wholeheartedly agree.

The Government is continually harping on about the levels of education in the country and, indeed, Weston College's principal has recently had an article featured highlighting the low level of education in the area. Children at this age are far more likely to be disrupted by change, This will likely cause some months of disruption to their education and to their feelings towards education. This, surely, will have a knock-on and disruptive effect on the child's education which has a knock-on effect on society as a whole.

I suggest that the plans are fully supported by the council and that, as part of these plans, some thought is given to the children themselves and not to the few 'Victor Meldrews' of the Worlebury area. After all, we are talking about a Church of England School, not a drug rehabilitation centre or young offenders institute! Should we as a proud and Christian nation not be fully in support of those who wish to bring their children up in a moral and Christian manner? Are these children not, proven by generations of heritage, less likely to be a menace to society at a later age?

Further more, in light of the promised commitment to providing more education in rural areas given over recent years by our councillors, does Kewstoke and Sand Bay not count as rural anymore?

The obvious option for my children, should these plans be rejected, is to move on to St Martins CofE School in Spring Hill. This, in itself, would not be an issue except for the fact that St Martins have not received much in the way of refurbishment since I went the 28 years ago. They have coped formidably well but would, I believe, struggle to cope with a continued increase of pupils over the coming years. This is something that would be greatly alleviated by the plans for Worlebury St Pauls. This would surely, in the long run, cost the education authority less whilst offering the community more.

PAUL LEINICHEN:

Milton Brow

Weston