£4.1million investment for county schools by Kate | Gloucester News Centre - http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk/
Three county schools are due for expansion if cabinet agree to allocate the money in the budget next week.
At next Wednesday’s cabinet meeting (20th July), members will be discussing proposals to invest more than £4.1million into building new or expanding classrooms at Lakefield C of E Primary School, Gloucester and Pittville and Bournside Schools in Cheltenham.
The proposals form part of the normal budget report cabinet regularly receives and it asks for money to be allocated from existing capital budgets to pay for the work that’s needed at the schools.
There is a need to create more places at Bournside School by one class at Year 7 when pupils start secondary school. Feasibility work has identified that the cost of the building work will be £2.4 million.
In July 2015, cabinet approved £1million to increase places at Pittville School. A development plan was drawn up and, like Bournside, it was identified that there was the need for an extra class at Year 7.
An extra £500,000 is needed in order to create the buildings associated with the additional class. In total this would bring Pittville’s investment to £1.5million.
Lakefield C of E Primary has an intake of 30 per year group but is regularly oversubscribed and agreed to take on an extra four pupils this year.
To accommodate the additional pupils the school has agreed to take on now and in the future, three classrooms need expanding. The budget report asks for £231,000 to carry out the building work.
Cllr Paul McLain, cabinet member for children and young people at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Gloucestershire County Council is committed to proving the best opportunities possible for all children.
“To do that we need to make sure that our classrooms and schools are fit for purpose so all children can learn in a suitable, appropriate environment.
“It’s only right that when we need to create extra space for more pupils that we invest the money that’s needed to accommodate them properly.
“I hope that cabinet will support these recommendations next week and I look forward to seeing the building work take shape.”
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