Work progresses to build new primary school at Staffordshire housing development

The school is being created on the site of the St John's Grange housing development on Baker Road and will be run by Primitas Learning Partnership.

It will have space for 210 school pupils as well as places for 26 youngsters at its nursery provision initially, though this is expected to increase in the future.

The new school is being built to accommodate increased demand for places from nearby housing developments including St John’s Grange and another on the nearby Cricket Lane.

Staffordshire-based Primitas Learning Partnership already runs a number of schools in the county including Erasmus Darwin Academy, Ridgeway Primary Academy, Highfields Primary Academy and Holly Grove Primary Academy, all in Burntwood, The Friary School and Queens Croft High School in Lichfield and Henry Chadwick Primary School in Rugeley.

Mark Maydew, CEO of the trust, said: “It is a real honour to have been given the opportunity to open a free school which will serve such a fantastic community.

“Our trust has a clear and crucial mission; to ensure that all children and young people receive the kind of education that they need and deserve. We are incredibly excited about furthering our mission in Lichfield South.

“Ever since Primitas was formed, we have been determined to function as a close-knit family of schools and we cannot wait to start helping our new school grow, flourish and succeed.”

Staffordshire County Council's Property Sub-Committee approved the transfer of the site to the authority from developer Persimmon Homes at a meeting held in August last year.

Speaking at the time, Lichfield councillor Colin Greatorex said the new school would help take pressure off three other primary schools which are all located on the nearby Cherry Orchard.

Staffordshire County Council cabinet member for education, Jonathan Price, said: “This school is essential to ensure that there are enough places for pupils in the Lichfield area. 

"It has been in the planning stages for a number of years, to enable us to mitigate the impact of new housing developments.

“Primitas already runs a number of very successful primary and secondary schools in the Lichfield, Burntwood and Rugeley areas and I look forward to seeing how this new school will develop.” 

The school is yet to have an official name and so people have been invited to leave their suggestions by visiting primitas.co.uk/newschool/