PLANS for a new primary school to help meet the growing demand for primary school places in the town centre will be unveiled at a consultation evening later this month.

St Joseph’s Catholic College is holding a presentation and consultation evening on February 28 for a primary school, which is due to open in September 2014, on an unused section of playing field on Queen’s Drive.

Swindon Council needs to provide an extra 30 reception places a year by 2014 and the same again by 2016 due to a rise in births.

St Joseph’s principal Maureen Harries, said: “We are incredibly pleased to be selected as the site for the new primary school in central Swindon and would like to thank both Swindon Council and the Clifton Diocese for all their help throughout the selection process.

“St. Joseph’s will be one of the first Catholic academy schools in the country to offer education from four-years-old all the way through to 19, and we are looking forward to welcoming our first intake of reception children in 2014.

“St Joseph’s Catholic College believes this offers a first class educational opportunity for the children of Swindon and we welcome applicants to the primary school from families living in our catchment area.“ Two sites, which were whittled down from a possible five, went out to a statutory public consultation last year.

The choices were either a new school on land once used as a council depot off County Road, or an expansion of St Joseph’s Catholic College on to an unused section of the school field.

Plans for the building and an artists’s impression of the school will be on display at the event and there will also be a chance to speak to the college leadership group, architects and governors.

The consultation, which is open to residents, parents and anyone interested in finding out more, will be between 6.30pm and 8pm.

There will be parking on-site and refreshments available throughout the evening.

The new primary school will be a state of the art facility, matching the secondary school, and will offer 30 new reception class places.

There will be an opportunity to go to a two form entry when it becomes needed.

The modular building will begin in April 2013 and applications for admission will be accepted from September 2013.