Following the announcement that a Swindon school will be completely rebuilt, two other Swindon schools are also bookmarked to be redeveloped under the same programme.
Wroughton Infant School and Highworth Warneford School are two of 518 schools allocated funding under the government’s 10-year School Rebuilding Programme.
While a third, Lawn Manor Academy, is planned to be completely rebuilt, the extent of the planned redevelopment at Wroughton and Highworth is not yet known.
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The programme, announced in 2020, aims to replace or refurbish some or all buildings at schools and sixth-form colleges across England.
The schools were prioritised based on their condition, including the severity of their condition, the potential to cause significant harm to pupils or specific construction types.
A total of 1,105 schools applied for the programme in 2022 with other Swindon schools not being selected for funding, namely Beechcroft Infant School and St Mary's Catholic Primary School.
The programme aims to complete 50 schools a year, but there have been warnings of delays as the BBC reported earlier this month that most schools do not have builders on board yet.
Contracts had been awarded to construction companies for only 62 schools in 2024, over 20 below the Department for Education’s target for 2023.
Wroughton Infant School and Highworth Warneford School have been contacted for further details.
Headteacher at Lawn Manor Academy, Sandra Muir, explained: “This is a very exciting time for Lawn Manor Academy and we’re looking forward to working with the Department for Education to create a new school building that will give our pupils the best possible environment for learning, as well as facilities that we can also open up to the local community.
“The current buildings were built in 1964 and whilst we have known that we would be part of the programme since 2022 it’s great that it’s now our turn.
“Whilst there’s lots to still be agreed and the whole design to come too, we’re hoping to have state-of-the-art sports and performing arts facilities, as well as a wonderful library too.
"“We hope to also keep the forest school area that our staff and pupils have worked so hard to build and maintain and we want to maximise the potential that a new build offers by ensuring our facilities are multi-use and accessible to everyone.”
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