Pupil numbers could hit 600 in school growth bid

Classrooms, music and sports facilities for expansion plans

The borough’s first free school has announced ambitious expansion plans, with a sports hall, music rooms and classrooms.

Wye Free School first opened in September 2013, after two years of planning by parents and the Department for Education.

Three years on, it provides facilities for 364 pupils from Year 7 to Year 10 at its site in Olantigh Road, Wye.

It has classrooms in the Kempe Centre building along with temporary classrooms, but this week it has submitted plans for its next two phases of expansion.

The new building, designed by Architecture Initiative, will include 12 classrooms, a music classroom with practice rooms, a hall for assemblies, and a sports hall which can include tennis and basketball courts and cricket nets.

In August the school submitted plans for the first phase of redevelopment, which includes the demolition of outbuildings to make way for an outdoor sports pitch and space for coaches to park. A decision on the application is expected this month.

The second phase is for the new building, which will then be followed by a third phase which will change the layout of rooms in the Kempe Centre.

The ultimate objective is to expand the number of pupils to 600, with 450 from Year 7 to Year 11 and a further 150 sixth formers, and 52 teaching staff.

The planning application is available to view online by visiting www.ashford.gov.uk/planning and searching for reference 16/01548/AS.

It will be open to public discus- sion until Sunday, November 13, and council officers will aim to make a recommendation by midJanuary.

What do you think? Write to Kentish Express, 34-36 North Street, Ashford, TN24 8JR or email kentishexpress@thekmgroup.co.uk

Picture: Architecture Initiative A design for the new building at Wye Free School