Plans to expand a Twickenham school to try to ease the primary place shortage have been scrapped, it has been claimed.

A governor at Orleans Infant School said Richmond Council had ripped up a plan to turn the school and St Stephen’s CE Junior School into two-class primary schools – but the borough’s education boss would only confirm the authority is considering its options.

The council’s scheme would have added an additional class to the St Margarets area, as currently both schools have three classes, with children generally moving from Orleans, in Hartington Road, to St Stephen’s, in Winchester Road.

The governor, who asked not to be named, claimed the council’s new plan was to have a four-class Orleans Infants and a three-class St Stephen’s Junior, meaning there would be no extra reception places in the St Margarets area.

Under the plans 120 children would fight for 90 places at the junior school.

The governer said: “We are sick to death of the way we are being treated.”

Nick Jones, chairman of governors at St Stephen’s, wrote on the school’s website last year the council’s plans for the site “fell short of the basic minimum which would allow the school to operate as a two-form entry school” and had been rejected.

In a later letter to parents, Mr Jones said: “While we remain committed to a solution acceptable to our school, parents, pupils and the community, to date we have not found an acceptable way forward that will not, in our view, diminish the educational experience that we aim to offer.

“As such, the expansion plans for St Stephen’s, and also for Orleans Infants, remain unresolved.”

The Orleans governor said: “The budget they gave St Stephen’s was not enough to expand properly, the school would not be fit for purpose.

“St Stephen’s wanted an extra £700,000, the council would rather have a sub-standard school – this should be a priority. The council has now taken that offer off the table.”

Councillor Malcolm Eady, Richmond Council’s cabinet member for children’s services and education, said there was particular pressure to find primary school places in St Margarets and central and East Twickenham.

He added: “At this stage we are considering all options to ensure there are enough school places for children.

“However, nothing is confirmed yet. We are continuing to discuss the options with schools, including both Orleans Infant and St Stephen’s Junior.”

The plans are part of a borough-wide £32m primary school revamp, designed to add five new, permanent reception classes by 2011.

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