Fairfield, Stotfold and Letchworth schools look to meet growing demand for pupil places

An outline application has been submitted to build a one-form entry lower school – which could hold 150 pupils – on land owned by Central Bedfordshire Council to the east of Hitchin Road.

The single-storey building would provide five classrooms, a hall, staff room and school office, as well as outdoor hard and soft play areas and a car park.

A spokesman for the application said: “Fairfield Park is currently served by a single lower school, which despite recent expansion is at capacity.

“Indeed all the lower schools in the Stotfold area, including Fairfield Park, Roecroft, Gothic Mede and St Mary’s have capacity issues.

“As the existing lower school has been expanded beyond its boundary, a new school must be provided.

“There is a demonstrable current shortfall in lower school places which is forecast to deteriorate in the years ahead.”

Funding for the school could be swelled with a £3 million contribution from the developers who are planning to turn the pig unit on Hitchin Road into 116-homes and a 70-bed care home.

Central Bedfordshire’s planning committee will discuss the application on Wednesday, May 27.

Stonehill School in Letchworth has submitted plans to North Herts District Council to demolish a building ‘in poor state of repair’ which holds its nursery and reception and replace it with a larger structure for seven years.

If plans are accepted, the building would house reception and Year 1 pupils, while the nursery would be moved to another classroom within the school.

The application states: “There is a growing demand for reception places from children within Letchworth.

“The additional double modular classroom on the eastern part of the site will allow a bulge year of 30 additional pupils to filter through the school.”

Another school looking to expand is The Academy of Central Bedfordshire in Stotfold, which has applied for planning permission to build a single-storey lobby to the rear of the school.