By Andrew Topping, Local Democracy Reporter
A brand new 1,200-place secondary school site of Nottingham College’s former Clarendon campus could be given the go-ahead next week.
The now-disused site, on Pelham Avenue near the Forest Recreation Ground in Carrington, has already been part-demolished.
But new plans, submitted by the Department for Education and due before Nottingham City Council’s planning committee next week, could see it turned into a huge secondary school.
Documents confirm it would be operated as the Bluecoat Trent Academy, a school run by the Archway Learning Trust.
The school is currently in operation and is based at a campus in Aspley, serving pupils in years seven and eight.
But a bigger school site is needed to accommodate an “urgent need” for more secondary places in the city.
It is expected that, if approved by city planners on Wednesday, November 23, the permanent school on the corner of Pelham Avenue and Mansfield Road would open in September 2024.
The school’s current Aspley campus, which began intake in September last year, is a short-term arrangement and further temporary accommodation is being sought for September 2023’s academic year.
Documents reveal the catchment for the new school is roughly within a two-kilometre radius of the application site and, by the time it opens in 2024, would have pupils from years seven through to 10.
Once full, it is expected to have pupils from ages 11 to 16, including years seven to 11, with about 240 pupils per annual cohort.
About 70 members of staff would be employed at the new school.
The plans propose two buildings for the school, including a two-storey sports hall at the northern section of the site and a split-level building of three and four storeys to the south.
The split-level building would include classrooms, a reception area, a hall and catering facilities.
Both buildings would be built using mainly red bricks with some contrasting grey bricks.
There would also be two multi-use games areas, 48 car parking spaces – including three disabled bays and six electric charging ports – as well as 252 covered cycle spaces.
Documents say the school’s entrance will be “prominent and welcoming”, with the car park to be accessed from the existing entry point to the college on Mansfield Road.
Demolition of the former Clarendon campus began earlier this year after Nottingham College moved to its new city centre hub.
The school investment is part of more than £5m being used in council grants to tackle rising pupil number demand in the city.
Members of the city council’s planning committee will be recommended to approve the new school at its meeting next week.
Councillor David Mellen (Lab), leader of the council, previously said: “ This will provide vital additional secondary school places to meet significant growing demand.
“The Clarendon site is well located to serve areas of the city where this pressure is greatest, and is highly accessible with good public transport links. It is a significant investment in educational provision.
“It’s a significant step forward in Nottingham’s 10-year strategic plan for schools, which strives to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person in Nottingham.”
