Multi-million pound infants school planned at Wolverhampton Grammar School

The prestigious school, which opened in 1512, wants to build on playing fields at its site in Compton Road.

The new school, which will have its own headteacher, will cater for pupils aged from four to seven years old. It could initially take 60 youngsters, across three year groups, eventually rising to 120. Class sizes will be capped at 20 children.

The school will create up to 20 new jobs for teachers, assistants and maintenance staff. Bosses are set to submit plans to Wolverhampton council at the end of the month.

Philip Sims, chairman of WGS, said: "We have a first class reputation and support the city in attracting aspirational families and high achieving staff to the area.

"As a major employer in the city, the creation of our infant school will mean we can offer even more jobs, as well as opportunities to local businesses and suppliers."

Bosses say fees will be broadly in line with other local independent schools that cater for infants. Newbridge Preparatory School in Tettenhall charges £7,095 per year for Year 2 pupils.

The proposed new infant school will cater for boys and girls, offering state-of-the-art facilities. It will cost between £3-4 million.

Plans include 12 classrooms, a science laboratory, a design and technology room and a library. The eco-friendly design includes rainwater capture technology and natural ventilation.

The site will also feature a 180sq m sports and assembly hall with a built-in stage for theatre productions, an outdoor play area featuring an amphitheatre and a forest schools area. Learning spaces will be kitted out with touchscreen display technology, while a new 3G mini-soccer and rugby pitch will be made available for community use.

Other areas on the site will be set aside for group cooking activities, music lessons and learning support.

The school will feature a dedicated entrance accessed from Gamesfield Green, off Merridale Road.

Headteacher Kathy Crewe-Read, said: "We will take the best of 500 years' experience of teaching with the latest research to create an Infant School that will be the best learning environment possible for children from the age of four."

Bosses are hoping to start work in the autumn and open September 2017. It will be on the plot of land known as The Valley, which sits at the back of the main school site.

WGS has 729 pupils on roll aged seven to 18, including 148 in its junior school.

Early Years government funding will be available and parents will be able to use childcare vouchers. Catering will be provided by a dedicated head chef from the school's catering partner Holroyd Howe.

Parents will also be able to access before and after school care, with a number of clubs available including choir and reading clubs.