October 8, 2018 2.14 pm This story is over 65 months old

Major expansion plans for Gainsborough school

The school is just three years old
A 3D visualisation of the new build showing where it would go on the new building.

A Gainsborough headteacher says a new seven-classroom extension to a three-year-old school could help deal with a shortage of primary school places.

Lincolnshire County Council has submitted plans to West Lindsey District Council for the additional space at Castle Wood Academy, which will also include a new studio hall, refurbishment of an existing room and extra parking.

Head teacher Gary Brown said the school was ‘really excited’ by the plans which will take the facility from taking one new class a year to two.

He said the extension was “because of the massive shortage of primary school places in Gainsborough” which he said was reflected across the country.

A 3D visualisation of the new build showing where it would go on the new building.

“We’re really the only school in Gainsborough that’s got the physical space to expand,” he added.

Pointing to the school’s latest results, which showed a higher than average SATs results he said: “What the local authority has shown is their confidence in us to be able to provide high-quality education to the children.”

“We’re really excited by the opportunity this is going to give us.”

How the site would be laid out following the build with the extension coloured in blue.

The move will see the school – which only opened in 2015 – increase its annual intake from 30 to 60.

It currently has 167 pupils on its books.

This means that, if the build is approved, when Year Six is opened in three years time the school will be able to take 400 pupils.

A statement from Lincolnshire County Council’s corporate property project manager Justin Ward said: “There are five schools within this planning area of Gainsborough, although these are all also very full and additional capacity is required to meet local demand.

“All other schools have also been considered for expansion, but Castle Wood Academy is considered to be the most suitable option due to the location in relation to the pressure on school places (maximising the potential to walk to school) and the site.”

He later adds the expansion “would help to meet local demand, support local housing development plans and ensure that the Local Authority can meet their statutory duty of providing sufficient school places whilst taking into consideration a degree of parental preference to meet the needs of the local community.”

Mr Brown outlined plans to use outdoor and woodland learning as well as get builders involved in their teaching.

There are also plans to use the new hall as a library, with grant funding and donations being asked for to help fill it with books.

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEKLY, our exclusive email newsletter with highlights from coverage every week, as well as insights and analysis from our local democracy reporters.