£10m expansion of Nottingham school expected to be approved to solve shortage of places
Bluecoat Academy Wollaton. Image credit: Maber Architects
By Joe Locker, Local Democracy Reporter
The multi-million pound expansion of a school in Nottingham is expected to be approved to help solve a shortage of classroom places.
Under the plans a three-court sports hall and 12 new classrooms could be built at the Bluecoat Wollaton Academy (BWA), a Christian faith school off Sutton Passeys Crescent.
The expansion would allow the school to enrol 300 more pupils, bringing the total to 1,050.
Cllr Ethan Radford, the deputy leader of Nottingham City Council, previously said there has been a 32 per cent increase in demand for secondary school places in Nottingham.
Pressures on pupil places are expected to continue up to 2029.
The expansion would increase full-time staff from 87 to 90, and the number of part-time staff by seven, to 34.
Plans have been recommended for approval at a planning committee meeting on Wednesday, May 21.
Council planning documents say: “The proposed expansion of the BWA addresses a shortage of secondary school places within the city, with the greatest need in central, west, southwest, and northern areas.
“Even though local authorities have a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places under section 14 of the Education Act 1996, there are limitations and restrictions on the city council’s ability to meet this need.
“All secondary schools within Nottingham city are academies, and the council has no power to direct their expansion.
“Additionally, local authorities are required to support the expansion of schools rated ‘Good’ or above by Ofsted.
“While the council has engaged with all secondary academies within the city, the expansion of the BWA is the only viable option.
“The BWA delivers excellent educational outcomes, with an Ofsted rating of outstanding in all categories. Furthermore, its geographical location corresponds with the areas of the city with greatest need for secondary school places.”
Consultations were held last year with parents and carers, and nearby residents, during which concerns were raised over traffic and parking.
Nine representations from neighbouring properties also raised similar concerns, including access along the narrow Sutton Passeys which can become “chaos” at pick-up and drop-off times.
However the council’s planners say: “The concerns raised by residents about existing travel to and from the academy, compounded by the narrowness of Sutton Passeys Crescent and the potential for these to be exacerbated by an expansion in pupil numbers, are acknowledged.
“However, the Local Highway Authority has not objected to the methodology or conclusions of the submitted transport assessment.
“Consequently, there are no planning grounds to conclude that the proposal would lead to a significant increase in traffic that would warrant refusal of the application.”
Explore more
