A LEADING school has unveiled plans for a £6.9 million redevelopment.

Stanway School is to apply to Colchester Council for permission to demolish its dated Gainsborough block and build a new wing on the site.

The new block will allow it to increase its student numbers by 60 each year.

Co-head teacher Jonathan Bland said: "Children who live in our catchment area and go to our feeder schools are struggling to get places because of the demand.

"This will mean we can fulfil our responsibility to those pupils who almost feel it is a rite of passage to come here.

"It will mean we can provide quality education to more students.

"This area does not have enough secondary places and it will only get worse with the new homes being built in the area."

A total of 925 prospective students applied to go to Stanway School in September of which 223 got a place.

Stanway School, which has 1,164 students, is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary.

The Gainsborough block was built soon after the school was opened.

 

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Mr Bland said: "The block is now unfit for purpose and we cannot use it.

"We are planning to demolish it and build a replacement block on the same site.

"It will be smaller than the current block with specialist rooms for art, music and science.

"A new building will be in line with 21st century learning.

"It will give students an amazing opportunity.

"Ninety per cent of the facilities are here. This will complete the set to give great education."

Funding for the new building will come from Essex County Council.

Stanway School is currently rated as good and last summer recorded its best results with 73 per cent of students getting five A* to C GCSEs including Maths and English.

The school has launched a consultation into the redevelopment project and has invited residents to see the plans at the school on Wednesday *march 9* from 4pm to 7pm.

If the plans gets approval, Mr Bland said it was hoped work would start in the summer with the anticipated completion date in September next year.

Mr Bland said he was not expecting the extra students to trigger congestion along the already busy Winstree Road.

He said: "Many of the students will come from the Lakeland housing development so will either walk or cycle.

"The number of buses which bring children from further away is not expected to increase."