A school could become a Church of England school to help solve a shortage of places.

Great Clacton Junior School has put the option forward to education bosses and talks have been held with church representatives, who support the idea.

Phil Tayler, head at the Craigfield Avenue school, said a meeting was due to take place with the Local Education Authority later this month to discuss the initiative.

It is one of four options submitted as part of a consultation exercise which ended last month.

He said: "We have held preliminary discussions with Cannon Peter Hartley and the church is supportive in principle."

Mr Tayler said the proposal would increase his admission number from 90 to 120.

The other two schemes he suggested were to increase the numbers without becoming a church school or amalgating with neighbouring Burrsville Infants School.

Holland Haven Primary School also came up with a scheme to increase its admission numbers from 45 to 60.

Essex County Council originally produced plans to build a new 200-place school costing £2million on part of the site of the existing Windsor School in Holland Road.

Nigel Hunt, head of planning and access services at County Hall, said the consultation process brought up a variety of views, with the majority in favour of a new primary school.

Published Thursday, January 9, 2003

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