School fears over Traveller influx

Concerns have been expressed about the capacity of Ollerton’s schools to cope with increasing numbers of Gipsy and Traveller children settling in the area.

The issue was raised at Nottinghamshire County Council’s education standing committee.

Mr Stuart Wallace said: “I am concerned in respect of Gipsies because the number of sites in Newark is going down, and more are being set up in Ollerton.

“Do Ollerton’s schools need some assistance to cope with that?”

Mrs Stella Smedley, the county councillor for Ollerton, said it was becoming an issue.

“Ollerton is beginning to see an increasing number of Traveller families,” she said.

“The majority of the children are of primary school age and that will trickle through to secondary school. Ollerton and Newark are the two areas that feel the impact in depth.”

She was also concerned that Gipsy girls were often removed from secondary school at around 14 and educated at home.

“That concerns me tremendously because I take the view that Gipsy and Traveller children are no different from any other children in their educational needs,” she said.

“If it is right that girls often don’t get to school then the pressure of the law should be used as it would for anybody else.”

The cabinet member for children and young people, Mr Philip Owen, said he had not been told of any particular problem with schools accommodating Gipsy and Traveller children.

He said there were 60 of primary school age and 25 to 30 in secondary schools in the Newark area.

“If we are talking about relatively small numbers being dispersed, then individual schools may not be feeling the impact too much,” he said.

He said he would welcome the committee looking into the issue of children being taken out of school.

“If they do home educate then we have to ensure that the quality of that education is appropriate,” he said.

“It appears that around 50% move from primary to secondary education. Each one of those children deserves the best education we can possibly give them.”

He told the committee that the council cabinet felt considerable support was provided to Gipsy and Traveller children through its Achievement and Equality Team.