Tamworth primary school grows with the community

Pupils at a popular Tamworth primary school are set to benefit from brand new classrooms, an outdoor games area and other facilities, as part of an ambitious building project.

Coton Green Primary School, on Kipling Rise, is undergoing a £1 million plus expansion to meet a growing demand for school places in the area. The academy’s teaching accommodation will be extended to include three new classrooms, a studio space, cloakroom facilities and an additional playground.

The expansion will create an additional 105 places across the school over a period of several years, beginning in September, when reception will increase by 15 places.  

Work is now underway on the second phase of the project, which is being funded by Staffordshire County Council and property developers  under Section 106 Agreements. Headteacher Richard Osborne is thrilled to see the plans taking shape at the school, which is part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP).

He said: “We are very excited about the expansion of Coton Green School, which will future proof children’s education through the creation of new teaching classrooms and other state-of-the-art facilities.

“We’re delighted to be working with Staffordshire County Council to create a positive and lasting impact through this expansion, which means we can better serve families in the area by providing quality education to even more pupils.”

Coton Green is currently looking after vulnerable pupils and the children of key workers, while providing remote working for students at home.

Mr Osborne added:

“The support and commitment of our community has been incredible and I’m proud of how everybody has pulled together to meet the challenges of lockdown and remote learning. This project, which will connect both existing and new structures, is symbolic of the future we are all building and the continued success of this fantastic school.”

The facilities are being built by contractors Fords of Blythe Bridge Ltd on behalf of Staffordshire County Council and the ATLP. The architects are Entrust Property Services.

County Councillor Jonathan Price, Cabinet Member for Education at Staffordshire County Council said:  “Demand for school places in Staffordshire has growing for a number of years as our county has become an increasingly attractive place to live and work especially for younger families. It is important we plan ahead to ensure there are enough places available locally to accommodate increased pupil numbers. The expansion of Coton Green Primary School means it can continue to serve the local community and enable more local pupils to benefit from the education on offer.”