Ambitious plans to create Southampton’s first All-Through school have been given the go-ahead at a meeting of Southampton City Council’s planning committee.
The expansion of St Mark’s Church of England Primary School into an All-Through school offering primary and secondary education on one site will create 900 much-needed new school places.
Following planning approval, construction work on the £39.8 million project is expected to begin later this year this year and finish in Autumn 2022.
Following the planning committee’s decision,Councillor Darren Paffey, Southampton City Council’s Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Children and Lifelong Learning, said:
“We’re fully committed to investing in our young people and their education, and this planning approval means we can now press on with this ambitious project to create hundreds of much-needed school places.”
“This is a major construction project and we are mindful of the impact that works can have on the nearby community. We will be keeping local residents and businesses updated as the project progresses and do what we can to keep any disruption to a minimum.”
Jeff Williams, Director of Education at the Diocese of Winchester, said:
“We’ve been working in partnership with Southampton City Council on the planned expansion that will offer young people in the city fantastic facilities and an educational environment in which they can thrive. We’re really pleased that the project can move forward and excited to see work begin in the coming months.
“We’re confident that the finished school will stand as a real beacon of the Church of England’s commitment to supporting more children, of all faiths and none, in flourishing and reaching their potential.”
Read more here: https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18238857.new-school-site-st-marks-church-england-primary-school/
