PROPOSALS to increase pupil numbers at Haydonleigh Primary School have met with opposition from its governing body.

Swindon Council are proposing to permanently expand Haydonleigh, as well as Abbey Meads and Catherine Wayte primary schools.

From September 2008, two extra classrooms will be provided at Haydonleigh in order to cope with an increase of 60 pupils.

At a cabinet meeting last night councillors were asked how the school could be expected to cope with eventual pupil numbers that double its present capacity.

Jane Rees and Sharon Miller, of Haydonleigh's governing body, told the cabinet that staff were already struggling to cope.

Jane said: "Haydonleigh was built as a one-form entry school with the capacity to take 210 children.

"We are already well over that number and struggle on a daily basis to accommodate the additional children, teachers and support staff required to meet the ever increasing demands of primary education.

"If the school is forced into the situation of accepting a permanent increase to two forms of entry, leading to a school capacity of 420 children, how are existing school facilities expected to stretch to handle the additional numbers on a permanent basis?

"Will there be additional funding to enable the infrastructure of the school to be improved in order to ensure that the children do not suffer as a consequence of over-crowding?"

Hilary Pitts, group director of children's services, responded by saying that the authority's resources were limited and had many priorities, She agreed to look again at the needs of Haydonleigh and said she would be happy to meet the governing body.

She said: "The authority is appreciative that this and other schools in the Northern sector have agreed to expand to admit extra pupils due to the pressure on primary school places as a result of housing growth in that area.

"Extra accommodation for classes has already been agreed and will be provided at the school for this September.

"It is also recognised that the extra pupil numbers in the school are placing more pressure on the infrastructure and facilities."

Council leader Rod Bluh said: "I think this issue has taken up more of our time than any other over the last few months, which shows how important it is."

Mrs Pitts said: "The lesson to be learned here is that we need to put the infrastructure in place prior to building new housing.

"But this is called utopia."

"No," corrected Coun Nick Martin, "it's called Milton Keynes."