SWINDON is facing a shortage of primary school places in the central and southern areas amid rising numbers of pupils in the next few years.

Figures show there could be more pupils than places for year groups starting school in 2015 and 2016.

But after that time the problem end, so the rise does not justify building a new school.

Talks have begun over creating ‘bulge classes’ at existing schools to cope with the temporary increase in demand.

This will involve the creation of an extra class for one year group, which will stop when the demand drops.

For 2015, talks have begun with the Clifton Diocese, which runs Holy Rood Infant School and is behind plans to build Holy Cross Primary School on land adjacent to St Joseph’s.

Holy Cross is due to become a 60-place entry school from 2016, so it is hoped this could be brought forward a year to 2015.

This would not solve the problem in 2016, so another school would need to be found to deal with the extra places.

Councillor Fionuala Foley (Con, Chiseldon and Lawn), the cabinet member for children’s services, said: “All our calculations and planning for school paces are based on figures we receive related to birth rates and people who are moving in and out of areas.

“From a financial point of view, the figures are good news because it means we do not have to build a new school.

“What it does show though is that within the central and southern area we could well have a shortage of places for the next few years.

“Talks have started for next year and we have a bit of extra time for the 2016 year.

“I can guarantee that there will be places available.”

Other areas of the town do not have this problem because there are sufficient places.

For example, the creation of Tadpole Farm Primary has helped to solve demand in North Swindon.

Coun Foley said sending children to other areas of the town was not an option.

“It is important that children go to school close to their community or somewhere convenient for the parents,” she said.

“Busing people around the town is not something we are considering.”

It is not known at this stage whether Clifton Diocese will be able accommodate the extra year group but it is the council’s first choice for next year.

The next year could see many of the schools in central and southern Swindon approached to see if they could handle the 2016 entry.