Badger Hill Primary School have had plans to rebuild a large part of the school approved by the local authority.
The new building will be situated on the existing school site and connect to a more modern part of the school which will be refurbished as part of the plans.
Headteacher, Vicky Whittingham said: “It’s fantastic news to now have planning in place, the children and staff are really excited to get the go ahead for the new school. The new building will allow for a more flexible way of learning in modern light-filled classrooms. Having a larger hall will also provide us with more opportunities for sports and whole school events.”
The current school, which dates back to the 1960s, has reached the end of its lifespan and is in an increasingly poor condition. The school, Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust and LHL Group Construction Consultants have been working together to gain funding and design a new school on the site.
Michelle Bowling, Operations Manager at Pathfinder, said: “We are delighted that our plans for the new school have been approved, this represents a significant milestone in the project. We are now working will all the relevant agencies to build a school for the future which will offer a high standard of education, in an inspiring, innovative and creative environment that will benefit young people for many years to come.”
Current and prospective parents gave their seal of approval over the plans at a recent open evening at the school with many offering their support for the project.
The proposals will see the oldest part of the school replaced with a new modular building that meets the Education and Skills Funding Agencies requirements. The new single storey building will provide a state of the art learning environment for pupils and staff and include four additional classrooms, a main hall, kitchen, staff room, library, reception area, cloakrooms, toilets and offices.
The plans will allow the school to remain open while the new building is constructed, avoiding the need for temporary classrooms. The existing 1960s building would then be demolished once the new build is complete. There will not be an increase in the number of places on offer at the school as part of the proposal. The school is also committed to the Little Badgers Nursery and is working with the pre-school committee to ensure its continued operation at Badger Hill.
Work on the new building is anticipated to start in 2019 once funding has been agreed.