Huge plan to revamp schools is step closer

The multi-million pound transformation of two Wolverhampton high schools has moved a step closer after councillors approved their development.

Highfields Secondary School, in Merry Hill, and The King's School, in Tettenhall, will be the first to be transformed under Building Schools for the Future.

The £370 million project will see every secondary school in the city redeveloped.

The current Highfields Secondary will be completely demolished and replaced with a butterfly-shaped building.

Classrooms will fan out in two wing-like blocks from a main entrance.

The school will also provide accommodation for the 160 students from the nearby Pennfields Special School, as well as creating two multi-use games areas, a sensory garden, nature zone and outdoor dining terrace.

The central three-storey block at The King's, meanwhile, will be overhauled and extended with a new two-storey wing complete with performing theatre and faith centre.

Tettenhall Wood Special School, in School Road, will also be relocated into the site.ApprovedBoth schemes will include the creation of combined heat and power stations to improve energy efficiency, as well as upgrading staff rooms.

They were approved at a meeting of Wolverhampton City Council's planning committee yesterday.

Councillor Judith Rowley said: "This will hugely improve the education facilities on offer in Wolverhampton for future generations.

"It will give us the opportunity to update buildings which are very much past their best. It will allow us to give our children the best possible start in life."

Concerns have been raised by Sports England that the developments will result in some playing fields being lost but councillors ruled the importance of developing the schools outweighed the loss.Developer inspiredspaces now say work could begin by the end of the year.

Building Schools for the Future is a central government scheme to rebuild or refurbish every secondary school in England over the next 15 years.