School having to turn away pupils because it is too small

FOUNTAINS WANTS TO BUILD TEMPORARY CLASSROOMS TO BOOST ITS CAPACITY

A SPECIAL needs school has had to turn away 42 pupils because it does not have enough classroom space, and is applying to add temporary space so it can provide more places.

Fountains High School, in Bitham Lane, Stretton, currently teaches 190 pupils with a wide variety of special educational needs and disabilities.

However, the roll number is expected to increase to 200 in September 2022, and the head teacher has already had to turn 42 pupils away from starting in the autumn term.

To deal with the problem, the school wants to add two classrooms in a temporary building until a more permanent building is created. This will mean it can cater for an extra 24 pupils.

Esteem Multi Academy Trust, which runs the school, has applied to East Staffordshire Borough Council for permission to install a modular building with a ramp to provide two temporary classrooms.

A report submitted alongside the application said: “The school is unable to accommodate these [extra] pupils due to a lack of classroom space and of accessible facilities to support the full curriculum. Further requests for places are expected to come in throughout the year. The two temporary classrooms will allow for 24 of these requests to be accommodated.”

The report added that proposals for a permanent classroom block would not be ready for the autumn term and the temporary classrooms would provide an interim solution.

It said: “In conjunction with Staffordshire County Council, proposals are being developed for a permanent new classroom block to meet the school’s needs, along with a sports hall, multi-use games area and improved parking and drop off facilities. This application is expected to be submitted in the summer 2022.

“As construction works on the site will have to be carefully planned and managed to ensure pupil safety and on-going drop off/parking arrangements, it is likely that the construction works will have to take place during the extended summer holiday period.

“The new classroom facilities will not therefore be available for the planned in-take in September 2022 and the proposed temporary classroom block is sought as an interim measure to address the urgent need for additional classroom accommodation while the permanent classrooms are signed off, submitted for approval and built out. A temporary period of three years is requested for the modular classroom building.”

A decision is due to be made in the next few months.