A new primary school for the Elsea Park housing estate at Bourne opened in September 2014 at a cost of £3.14 million after a long period of uncertainty over whether it would be built.

The controversial housing estate to the south of the town which was first projected in March 1999 is the biggest single residential development in the history of Bourne with 2,000 new homes bringing an estimated 6,000 newcomers to the town. South Kesteven District Council which approved the plans, negotiated a S106 agreement with the developers, the legal contract that formalises what will be provided, also known as the planning gain, and this included a primary school for local children which was due to be completed by September 2007.

But the scheme was scrapped in 2006 by Lincolnshire County Council, the education authority, which blamed falling pupil rolls and the prospect that a new school would create problems of surplus places at the town's two existing primary schools, the Abbey and Westfield. Then in July 2010, the council announced that a projected influx of families to the town meant that the school would be needed after all and could open as early as September 2013.

The idea of a new school did not please everyone, particularly the head teachers of the two primary schools who in July 2010 expressed alarm about the effect it would have on their own establishments and they condemned the project claiming that it would change their funding and performance in the long term.

Cheryl Edwards (Abbey) and Tim Bright (Westfield) were so concerned about the situation that they decided to go public with their objections and their joint statement was published by the Stamford Mercury claiming that the opening of a third primary school could result in pupils being siphoned off from their own schools thus leading to a reduction in the funding available and this would affect the high quality of education currently being provided (July 16th). The statement went on: “The result could mean redundancies for existing staff at perhaps both schools when trying to split the extra number of pupils between three schools rather than two.”

Lincolnshire County Council, however, appeared to be unsympathetic to this intervention because Patricia Bradwell, executive councillor for children’s services, told the newspaper: “The residents of Elsea Park were promised a new school for their children and many purchased new houses with this in mind and all are looking forward to it being built. The developer wishes to see that the new school is built and it makes sense to plan for a start on site to enable it open in September 2013. The projections for the area show us that a school will be needed as the housing market recovers and more pupils arrive. We will keep both schools up to date with our proposals and will continue to consult with them when full proposals are brought forward.”

There was a further hitch in July 2013 when planning permission was delayed by Lincolnshire County Council's planning and regulation committee because of complaints from residents that there would be insufficient parking space at the new school and that traffic would cause problems of access in the surrounding streets. But these objections were overruled when the committee met on Monday 2nd September and members approved the scheme, thus enabling work to proceed as planned ready for the opening in the autumn of 2014.

This time the new school was welcomed by the town's two primary schools which have both become academies in the meantime. Staff and governors at the Abbey C E Primary Academy were particularly pleased because they have been chosen to run the new school. John Kirkman, chairman of the governors, said: "The number of primary-aged children in the area is increasing and the new school will ensure that all needs are met."

The new school known as the Elsea Park Church of England Primary Academy eventually opened on 2nd September 2014 with a reception class of 23 children and a further seven Year 1 and 2 pupils with a projected one class per year being added to a maximum capacity of 210. The school's new uniform is red and grey and the logo (pictured top) was designed by Mrs Nikki Proud, herself a new parent of the school, whose entry won first place in a "Design a Logo" competition and the embroidered crest now appears on the school uniform.

The school was officially opened on Monday 9th February 2015 by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, who unveiled a commemorative plaque at a ceremony attended by governors, staff and pupils who read poems specially written for the occasion. Afterwards, he toured the premises with parents and other guests and then joined children for lunch in the school hall.

REVISED FEBRUARY 2015

See also

Head teachers protest in July 2010