Green Light for Charlton Primary School Extension

I have just come back from the County Council's Planning and Regulation Committee where Charlton Primary School's extension has been given the go ahead.   I went along to speak and give my support both as local councillor and a governor at the school.  This is excellent news for the area as we have been aware for some time now that admissions for places have been full at many of our local primary schools.  The new extension will provide a new 2 classroom Foundation Stage Building located to the rear of the school.  This will involve the removal of a temporary building and the outdoor swimming pool and changing rooms.

Obviously, it will be a shame to lose the swimming pool, but this would have become a significant cost to the school as time goes on.  Also, as an outdoor pool it has had limited use, and the school, along with others in the area do use the local leisure centre indoor pool in Wantage for its swimming lessons.  There has been significant consultation and engagement locally and I am sure that the whole community will see the benefits of having an increase in numbers at the school.  The intake will now go from 45 to 60 pupils in the first year so there will be a two-form entry right from the start and is due to be open in time for September 2012.