New classroom plans for Wolverhampton school
Bosses at a Wolverhampton primary school are looking to create new classrooms to boost learning for children.
Whitgreave Primary School has submitted a planning application to Wolverhampton Council which, if approved, would see the creation of a new building featuring six classrooms, an intervention room and pupil toilets.
The former Whitgreave infant and junior schools merged last year with 420 pupils being taught across the two sites in Low Hill Crescent and Goodyear Avenue, which are connected by a footpath.
But headteacher Sarah Redfern said the extension, adjacent to the junior school site, would enable them to move out of cramped classrooms that some year groups were being taught in and cut down on teachers and pupils having to travel between the two sites.
In the application, she said: “There are a number of very small classrooms within the school, particularly within the Key Stage 1 building, whereby classes of pupils and staff cannot move around the classrooms, once the pupils are seated.
“This impacts negatively upon the support provided to the pupils within the classrooms, thus impacting upon teaching and learning.
“Having additional year groups on one site, would reduce the number of transitions that pupils currently face, even though we are a primary school, the split site brings issues. Not as many pupils would be moving to a new site.
“This will also increase the opportunities for specialist staff to work more effectively across the primary school, without having to travel to the other building in a car, or take time out to walk across the path, particularly in adverse weather conditions.
“There will be cost savings to school, as more staff will be able to work more effectively and efficiently across the whole primary school.
“As school budgets are being cut, this will lead to a cost saving. For example, when a teaching assistant leaves school, they will not be replaced, thus resulting in a cost saving, as the other teaching assistants will be able to work across the school and cover the role.”
Should the proposal be approved, it is not expected to see an increase in pupil numbers on the school roll, which is currently at its 420 capacity.
