New school set to create jobs

A £6 million rebuild of a Kidderminster school will create 12 new jobs and 100 new places for pupils after plans were given the go-ahead by Worcestershire County Council.

The current buildings at St Catherine's C of E Primary in Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster, will be demolished and a new school built on the playing fields.

Once the new school is completed, expected to be in January 2012, staff and pupils will move to the new school and the old buildings will be knocked down, with the playing fields laid on the site. Work is due to start in November.

Headteacher Sarah Power said the school had struck a deal with the neighbouring Carolians Rugby Club for the children to use their grounds as playing fields while the building work was under way.

The new building will increase the number of pupils at the school from 319 to 420.

It will also create jobs for nine new full-time members of staff, one part-time employee, and two extra lunch supervisors.

A study by Worcestershire County Council found that due to the size, layout and condition of the 40-year-old buildings it would not be practical to extend or convert them and a new building was needed.

It has been coping with increasing student numbers since an education review in 2007 changed the system, replacing first and middle schools with primary schools.

St Catherine's is the latest school to unveil rebuild plans. Five secondary schools, Baxter College, The Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre, King Charles I School and Sixth Form Centre, The Stourport High School and Sixth Form Centre, and Wolverley CE Secondary School, will be redeveloped over the next three years.

Work will be carried out in two phases with the first expected to start in 2011.