Jan 22, 2020, Barking and Dagenham Post: Council leader vows to 'provide right infrastructure' as demand for Barking and Dagenham school places is expected to soar https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/politics/barking-and-dagenham-school-places-forecasts-1-6478561 Cllr Evelyn Carpenter, Barking and Dagenham Council's cabinet chief for education, said at a town hall meeting she was worried about the growth and whether people are thinking about "good" school sites "at the heart of communities" and not next to places like sewage works. Cllr Cameron Geddes said: "Infrastructure has to be there. Messing up school places would ruin the party completely." Forecast figures show a potential rise in the school population of 17 per cent from the current 42,889 to 50,035, up to 2023/24…. Barking and Dagenham has experienced rapidly increasing numbers of youngsters needing support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), councillors heard. A forecast total of 113 primary and 353 secondary SEND pupils is anticipated over the next four years, the majority with autism….
