Last updated at 16:45, Thursday, 10 January 2013

PUPIL numbers could be about to soar at a school which is gaining new premises.

Last summer the governing body of St James’ CE School learned a bid for government funding to construct a new building at the site in Blake Street, Barrow, had been successful.

It is hoped the new building will be ready by May 2015 and that 60 new pupils could be welcomed into the school the following September.

Parents at the school are now being consulted on whether or not the school should expand from catering for 180 to 240 children.

The consultation document reveals an eight-classroom school will allow the school to cater for extra children, and that extra provision will be needed due to the building of new housing in Hindpool.

The document states: “Sixty-four houses are being constructed at St James’ Gardens, on Holker Street. Many of these houses will be family homes. There may be other planning permissions (submitted for further homes) in the near future.

“This is likely to raise the required intake further. At this point we would be able to fund two classes in each year group. In building new classrooms it is sensible to build classrooms to the national standard that can take 30 pupils.

“As we are proposing to build eight classrooms this gives a nominal capacity of 240.”

Chairman of governors at St James’, Councillor Dave Pidduck, said it is an exciting time for the school.

He said: “It is important parents are involved. Obviously it is about their children and their children’s futures. The consultation so far has been very positive.

“People have been very supportive and hopefully this will continue as the process goes on.”

The consultation will run until January 28, when governors meet to consider responses before further consultation is carried out and a final decision will follow later this year. The expansion of pupil numbers will be discussed at Cumbria County Council’s local committee for Barrow, which meets tomorrow at 10.15am at Barrow fire station.

First published at 16:19, Thursday, 10 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk