PLANS to increase the number of students in one of Earley’s most popular primary schools are being met with fierce criticism.

A decision to create an extra 15 places to 60 at Aldryngton Primary School were approved in January but having seen the proposals teachers and parents feel it would be to the school’s detriment.

Head teacher Elaine Stewart believes, among other problems, the increased traffic at drop off and pick up times would put the safety of pupils and parents at risk while more sufficient on-site parking is needed.

“One proposal for reducing traffic problems at the start and finish of the school day is to introduce drop off parking areas from which pupils would be walked into school,” she penned in a letter to parents.

“All of the current possible options lie some distance outside the school’s catchment area including the nearby park and the university campus.

“Clearly this is an ill-conceived idea to ease the impact of increased traffic.”

The result of the increase would see approximately 420 pupils on role by 2022.

The head teacher’s sentiments have been echoed by parents who believe not only the safety of the children at drop-off times would be jeopardised but also their general health and well-being, too.

“Clearly, this would have a huge drain on the school’s resources,” said father of two Matt Flintoff, whose two children are in Years 1 and 3 at Aldryngton primary.

“It also doesn’t tie into the government’s idea about our children staying fit and healthy because the school would lose one football pitch in the process of all of this.

“Whether the local authority intend to replace it I’m not sure, but the fact remains that the school would be losing square footage.”

Parents have already written the local authority expressing their concerns at the proposal.

And the parents’ anger has been met with a degree of sympathy from Cllr Clive Jones.

“I do want to see more school places being offered,” he said. “But I’m not sure this is the right thing to do. I think the solution may lie in possibly building new schools in other areas.”