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Townsend Primary & Nursery School closed on the 31 August 2008.
Bournemouth Borough Council has complied with all the applicable statutory requirements to consult in relation to the proposed discontinuance.
There is 13% surplus capacity across primary schools in Bournemouth. Therefore it is not necessary to increase the number of school places available in consequence of the discontinuance. Parents stated a preference for any school at which there are vacancies. Pupils were offered places with free transport to the following four named schools - Kings Park Primary School, Ashley Road, Bournemouth BH1 4NB, Malmesbury Park Primary School, Lowther Road, Bournemouth BH8 8LU, Queens Park Infant School, East Way, Bournemouth BH8 9PU, Queens Park Junior School, East Way, Bournemouth BH8 9PU.
A temporary catchment area, incorporating the current Townsend Primary and Queens Park Infant/Junior Schools catchment areas, will be established. This allows for every child of primary school age, living in what is currently Townsend School catchment area, to have equal priority with children in the current Queens Park Infant/Junior Schools catchment areas. The new temporary catchment area would remain in effect until a full review of all Bournemouth catchment areas takes place.
Free transport will be provided to the four named schools for all children on roll at Townsend Primary & Nursery School during the academic year 2007/2008, including those on roll on the date of closure, and for those who would have joined the school in the Reception Year on the first day of the academic year 2008/2009. Transport will also be provided for the older siblings of the children listed above where they would be attending at the same school. Transport will be sustained for the duration of their primary education. If after transferring to one of the named schools a child's address or school changes, the provision of free transport will be reviewed. Parents/carers of all the children identified above will be offered the opportunity to go with their child to and from the school for the first term only. The transport arrangement from September to December 2008 will take account of the hours that are appropriate for Reception Year children. These arrangements are designed to minimise an increase in car use. In the opinion of Bournemouth Borough Council the proposals are not related to any other proposals which may have been, are or are about to be published.
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