Plans for new 270-place pre and primary school at Chilton Leys, Stowmarket, to be run by Orwell Multi-Academy Trust, given green light
Plans for a new 270-place pre and primary school have been given the go ahead.
The one form entry school at Chilton Leys, Stowmarket, will open next September to children in Reception, Year 1 and 2, and will grow to a capacity of 210 pupils by September 2026.
In addition there will be a 60-place on-site nursery which will also offer before and after school provision.
It is hoped the new school, run by the Orwell Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), will provide sufficient school places for children from the new Chilton Leys housing development.
Anna Hennell James, CEO of the Orwell Multi-Academy Trust, said they were ‘thrilled’ to be opening up the school next year.
She said: “This is an exciting project both for the Trust and for the local community.
"We are very keen to work in partnership with the local community as plans for the school develop and will be holding a series of events to share ideas and get feedback."
Concertus Design and Property Consultants are in charge of designing and project managing the new school, which they said they hoped would provide a 'focal point’ for the local neighbourhood.
The school has been designed to fit in with the surrounding residential area with the external appearance designed to provide ‘visual interest’ and an ‘identity for each area of the school’.
Emilie Farrimond, project manager at Concertus, said: “The new primary and pre-school will provide a modern fit for purpose learning environment for local children, as well as helping to ease pressure on local schools due to the expansion of housing in the area.
“Our design is focused on representing the schools’ surroundings within the colour choices and fabric of the building and creating a central community hub which will be both unique and aesthetically pleasing.”
The new site can also accommodate future expansion, which Concertus said would ‘help guarantee continuity of provision and meet future population growth in the area’.
James Wilson, director and general manager at R G Carter, the main contractor on the project, said they were 'delighted' to have been appointed to deliver the 'much-needed' school.
He said: “We have extensive experience in providing high-quality educational facilities across the region and are looking forward to working in partnership with Suffolk County Council and Orwell Multi-Academy Trust on this exciting new project.”
A name has not yet been chosen for the school, nor have uniform colours, and the Orwell MAT plan to involve the local community in both decisions.
As well as plans for the building, the school has just advertised for a headteacher and is holding interviews soon.
The person who fills the role will be starting from January 2022 so that they are fully involved in overseeing the preparations for opening the school.
Orwell MAT is an all primary Trust, and currently has 6 schools located in Ipswich, Brantham and Felixstowe.
Read more: All the latest news from Stowmarket
