KEMPSEY Primary School has submitted a planning application to build four new classrooms in a bid to ‘relieve the pressure’ on its already oversubscribed classes.
With more than 500 new homes built in the village over the last two years as well as the rising reputation of the school, headteacher Byrony Baynes told the Observer the expansion was needed so it could cope with the potential influx of new pupils.
The school currently caters for 300 students but has a published admission number (PAN) of 40 which Mrs Baynes labelled as ‘bonkers’.
If permission is granted the PAN would be increased to 45 which would be ‘easier to manage’ and allow the school to cater up to 315 pupils.
The school would contribute £120,000 to the project and Mrs Baynes is hoping to secure about £437,000 in section 106 money from Malvern Hills District Council.
“This project is something we have been pushing for the last two years,” said Mrs Baynes.
“We are very creative with how we teach pupils and the new classrooms would make such a difference within the school in terms of our delivery of learning.
“Parents have been very supportive of the PAN increase as they recognise the need for additional spaces for children.
“A consultation was held before Christmas about the increase and they were very much in favour of the change.”
She added that the expansion would also allow pupils from out of the catchment area to attend.
“I do not want to start turning pupils away.
“If children out of our catchment want to come to our school I always do my best to facilitate them.”
Should planning chiefs grant approval, work is expected to start in the spring so the classrooms will be ready for the new term in September.
The classrooms would also be used for intervention spaces, small study rooms and music lessons.
Mrs Baynes stated she also hoped to increase the size of the school hall as it was in ‘desperate’ need of repair.
“Our hope is that we get the approval soon so we can break ground.
“The school is massively oversubscribed and we need to relieve some of that pressure.
“Ideally we want the classrooms opened in September this year as that is my goal and hopefully we will achieve that.”
