More school places due to be created at Beeston Rylands Junior School

The project is being funded through housing developer contributions as part of the Nottinghamshire County Council’s School Places Programme.

Initial work has already started on the project which includes a new classroom block, which will be made up of four units and assembled on site, providing a new teaching space for 30 pupils.

This will help provide more school places in the area and is due to be completed in time for the new school term in September.

Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Assets, Cllr James Walker-Gurley welcomed these plans. He said:

“We all want our children to have the best possible start in life.

“This new classroom block reflects this shared commitment, providing a modern learning environment and creating 30 much needed school places.

“By working constructively with housing developers, we’re turning growth into opportunity, unlocking investment that strengthens our schools and delivers real benefits for the wider community, now and for the future.”

Beeston Rylands Junior’s headteacher Catherine Turner said:

“We are very excited about this expansion. This is an exciting investment in the future of our school which will provide not only a modern high quality learning space in the new build but also some upgraded facilities in our main school building.

“There are many housing developments in our locality, and we are happy to be able to offer much needed spaces for children in this area.

“Our federated school - Trent Vale Infant and Nursery - is just across the road. They already have capacity to offer younger children a school place, and we can now be there for their older siblings to ensure a primary school experience in the two federated schools.”

As part of this agreement with the developer, a parcel of land close to where the new classroom block will be built will be provided at no extra cost. This will mean the school won’t lose any outdoor space.

The total housing development contributions for this project is £924,131, so the remaining £27,138 funds will be used in the latter phases of the project towards furniture and equipment.