Council consults on plans for a new primary school in Nantwich

Cheshire East Council has opened a pre-launch consultation on their plans for a new primary school, which will be located in the Kingsley Fields housing development in Nantwich.

The council has a statutory duty to ensure there are enough places for both primary and secondary schoolchildren who live in the borough. Nantwich has been facing a growing demand for school places driven by an increase in children and families from new housing developments including Kingsley Fields. The council needs to plan for the new school to meet the projected future demand for school places.

The proposal is for a one-form entry primary school, which will provide an additional 210 places for reception to year six pupils with an opening date of September 2024. The new school aims to reduce the pressure on oversubscribed schools in the Nantwich area, the need to travel across town and any additional traffic. Plans are for the opening to be phased over time based upon the number of pupils coming forward.

People can submit their views in a number of ways:

• Online by visiting the Cheshire East Council website;
• Completing a feedback form and emailing SOCS@cheshireeast.gov.uk;  
• Visiting a public drop-in session on Tuesday 19 October from 10.00am to 6.30pm at Nantwich Library, Beam Street, Nantwich, CW5 5LY

The consultation opened on 6 October and runs until 10 November 2021 with views reported back to the Department for Education and the council’s children and families committee.

Briefings for local schools and local councillors have already taken place ahead of the launch of this consultation period.

Councillor Kathryn Flavell, lead member for children and families at Cheshire East Council, said: “We have a great track record in providing sufficient school places for children and young people across the borough, with 98 per cent of Cheshire East parents being given a primary school place of their choice on national offer day this year.

“We consistently monitor school admissions to ensure there are sufficient places and analyse the latest pupil forecasts. This work identified the need to provide additional primary school places in Nantwich from the academic year 2024/25.

“Plans for the new primary school are one part of a local centre that also includes sports facilities and green spaces, creating a real community feel to the housing development.

“I urge anyone with an interest to let us know your views on this proposal, as your feedback will help us prepare the specification details for the new school.”