Date: 18 November 2008 09:56:37 GMT To: Subject: Expansion of Sefton Park School Dear Mr/Ms Gallagher, I would be grateful if the following question could be brought up at the Children’s Services Scrutiny meeting on Monday November 24th: One of the main reasons for the expansion of Sefton Park School has been given as the benefits of having a larger school population. Could we please be told on what basis this is founded? Are there any studies which proponents have used to support this theory? Having spoken to several Primary School Head teachers on the subject, there seems to be several good arguments against it, principally thatthe Head teachers can never get to know pupils individually once the school population gets over a certain logical size. Certainly a school containing some 550 children would mitigate completely against the knowledge of children as individuals, other than in special cases. What empirical evidence is there that bigger is better? Thank you [Name Supplied]