A SECONDARY school is hoping to build a new block just for pupils with special educational needs.
The Gilberd School, in Brinkley Lane, Colchester, says the block is needed because it expects to see an increase in pupils with special needs in the coming years as the town’s population grows.
From September, the school will take as many as 30 extra pupils.
Colchester is often said to be Britain’s fastest-growing town, recording population growth of about 70,000 people between 1991 and 2011.
A planning application for the teaching block has been submitted to Colchester Council.
The school wants to demolish its existing special educational needs block and put up a bigger, two-storey building, incorporating the existing caretaker’s house.
The project will be funded from the £6million the Government is investing in eight Colchester schools.
A decision on the application is likely by September 15.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here