School’s plea for space

A Newark school is asking Nottinghamshire County Council for £50,000 towards the cost of two new classrooms.

The rebuilt Barnby Road Primary School was completed more than a year ago.

Its circular design was the first of its kind in the county.

But there are fears the school is taking more pupils than it can accommodate.

The school governors have pledged £50,000 for one extra classroom and want the county council to match that so two can be provided.

The county councillor for Newark East, Mr Peter Prebble, said the school was in an area where new developments were planned that would attract more residents with children of primary school age.

“It is a good and successful school and I would urge the county council to see it through and not fall at this last hurdle,” said Mr Prebble.

He said the school cost £2.7m to build — £1/4m under budget — and the county council should spend some of that saving on another classroom.

The head, Mr Kevin Eveleigh, divides the school’s reception pupils and infants into two classes and is using its community room and IT room as classrooms to accommodate them.

When not being used by the school, the intention was for both to have been available for community use.

The IT room is now not available for community use and the community room is available only out of school hours.

There are 315 pupils at the school in seven year groups of between 39 and 55 pupils, and 80 youngsters in the nursery.

Before the school moved it took in 40 pupils a year.

After the move it accepted 45 pupils a year, but successful appeals by parents whose children are denied a place take the average intake up to 52. Appeals are heard by an independent panel.

The county council has said it will not provide the money for another classroom.

A council spokesman said: “The cost of a new classroom would be well in excess of £50,000.

“The school build did come in under budget. Any surplus funds would not have been set aside for future use at Barnby Road.

“The school is currently big enough for the number of pupils living in the catchment area.

“All applications from catchment area pupils this year, which were received on time, have been offered a place.”