A NUMBER of near misses on the John Masefield High School car park, between vehicles and pupils, has led to a shake-up of school policy, after a risk assessment raised serious safety concerns.

Now students being picked up by their parents in private cars must remain on school premises for 15 minutes longer than usual, until 3.30pm instead of 3.15pm, so that school buses can arrive and depart first.

Near traffic jam conditions have taken place at the school car park on some days, with cars jostling for space with buses and students and parents walking behind reversing vehicles.

School business manager, Wendy Bradbeer said: "Having conducted a risk assessment we believe that private cars driving onto the school site before 3.30pm pose a substantial risk which can be reduced by simply requiring parents to delay the time they enter the car park."

She added: "There have been near misses, and we have looked at ways to make the site safe for everyone."

The new rule, restricting parental cars onto the site to 3.30pm and after, allows school buses "first call" at the school, without them having to compete with cars.

Parents have been handed leaflets, giving news of the changes, and the head teacher, Andy Evans, has also covered the issue in a recent newsletter, where he revealed he had discussed the matter with police, governors and parents.

Mrs Bradbeer said: "There are ten school buses that leave the site between 3.15pm to 3.30pm along with approximately 400 students leaving on foot; the area is restricted and our priority must be to ensure the safety of all students at all times.

"We also ask parents not to walk across the car park behind the school buses to collect their children as this too poses a significant safety risk. We therefore ask all parents and students to use the zebra crossing instead, at the entrance to the car park. We always ensure that we have senior members of the school staff on duty every day, thus emphasising the true diligence of the school to ensure all students are safe.

She added: "Our aim is not to inconvenience parents, but to minimise the risk to students at the end of the school day."