Science block plan for Wolverhampton Girls' High School

The Girls’ High School (WGHS), on Tettenhall Road, just over a mile outside the city centre, has asked the council for permission to construct the two-storey building on its playing fields.

At present, the land includes six tennis courts, and the plan is to use two of these for the new wing, with a first-floor link connecting it to the existing school buildings.

If given the go-ahead by planning chiefs when they meet next week, the new block will provide the school with four new science labs, an associated prep space, a multi-use activity studio and extra storage rooms. There will also be five new parking spaces.

In a report to the council, Senior Planning Officer Vijay Kaul, said: “WGHS intends to increase its pupil numbers by 175 students overall.

“The school received a £3.5 million grant from the Department for Education (DfE) under the Selective School Expansion Fund programme, which it used to develop an outreach project with a view to working with disadvantaged youngsters from across the city.

“Over the course of the last two years, it has been able to change its admissions arrangements, working to raise the total number of Year 7 places that will be available from September 2020.

“To compensate for the loss of two of the tennis courts, the school has prepared a package of work that will improve the condition of the four remaining courts and also allow members of the public to use these facilities,” he added.

“There are a number of trees on the land which are protected by a Tree Preservation Order, but these will be retained.”

Mr Kaul said the council had received two letters of objection to the plans on the basis of loss of privacy for neighbours, and the risk of increased noise. However, councillors are expected to approve the proposal.