By Ian Austen

ian.austen@essnmedia.co.uk

Major moves to confront a shortage of primary school places, including opening a new school, have been officially rolled out.

The decisions announced in the council's latest transforming Croydon schools cabinet meeting will now trigger a full-scale feasibility and consultation process with teachers, parents, governors and residents across Croydon.

The major plank in the proposals to combat the need to provide up to 600 extra places in the next couple of years is the reopening of Selhurst High, in The Crescent - closed only last year - as a new primary school.

In addition, the committee agreed investigations should be carried out into providing extra reception classes across the borough with 17 existing primary schools being earmarked as potential candidates for growth.

Feasibility work is already underway at Whitehorse Manor Primary, in Thornton Heath, The Hayes, in Kenley and Beaumont Primary, in Purley.

The council believes a combination of both a new school and expansion will be sufficient for it to meet the peak growth rate in pupil numbers, expected in 2011.

A substantial part of the increasing demand is being put down to the economic downturn with fewer parents moving out of the borough and fewer opting for private education.

The committee heard converting Selhurst High into a primary school would cost around £7.5 million.

Building a new school would cost more than £9 million at the cheapest estimate.

It would meet the demand for new places from the South Norwood and Woodside areas where demand is highest in the borough.

Cllr Tim Pollard, chair of the cabinet committee and cabinet member for children, young people and learners, said: "We are sure we have a site which is ideal for pupils in exactly the right place to meet demand."

Supporting the proposals, Dave Hill, the council's director for children, young people and learners said: "Building a new school would be very much more expensive."

But he added: "Even if we open the new school we will still need to have a number of other schools with additional classrooms."

The intention is to establish the new school as a foundation school in partnership with the neighbouring Brit School which specialises in the performing arts.

A foundation school means that while it will be a local authority maintained school, staff will be employed by the governors who will also have some control over admissions and own the land and assets.

The committee agreed the partnership with the Brit School would give pupils a wider range of courses.

There would also be potential for them to move on to the school at the age of 14, after starting their secondary education at mainstream schools.

The new school would initially have three forms of entry - 90 pupils - building up to full capacity over seven years.

If the proposals go through unscathed the hope is the new school will be up and running in September 2011.