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£2.7m plans to expand Honiton Primary School revealed

Honiton Primary School

Extra classrooms are set to be built at the school in Clapper Lane as part of what Devon County Council calls a ‘phased expansion.’

The council is planning to complete the project, which will raise the school’s capacity to 630, in one phase at a cost of approximately £2.7million.

The scheme will be funded by £1.5million met from a Section 106 agreement regarding Baker Estates’ Hayne Lane development and £1,2m from the council’s capital programme. A planning application for the expansion of the school has now been submitted.

The educational statement of need says: “In common with many other parts of Devon, Honiton is experiencing demographic changes which, coupled with recent housing development, have resulted in increased demand for places at the town’s two primary schools, intensifying the pressure for places in the two town schools, as not only are there more children in total but a greater proportion are seeking to secure a place at their nearest school.

“All the schools in and around Honiton will be full to capacity at Reception age and thereafter for demand to increase. It is not prudent to operate without a margin for error – especially when it appears that the demand will be sustained.

“Honiton Primary School’s position is that it wants to be able to offer a place to any local child who wants one but does not want to sacrifice things which have contributed to a recent ‘Outstanding’ judgment by Ofsted.

The expansion is planned to start in autumn, to be ready by September 2019, subject to planning permission being granted by Devon County Council’s own development management committee.

Devon County Council’s cabinet meeting next month is expected to approve the council’s contribution to funding the plans.

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