Plans to double size of primary school put forward for approval

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Plans to double the size of a primary school have come one step closer to being completed.

Waterfield Primary, in Bewbush, under the headship of Karen Gilzene, was one of eight schools in Crawley chosen for expansion by West Sussex County Council in an effort to meet the increasing demand for places.

The expansion, which underwent a public consultation in 2014, would see Waterfield take in an extra 30 children per year group – doubling its size. The design proposals were endorsed on December 17 at a meeting of the council’s sketch plan panel, chaired by Councillor Richard Burrett, cabinet member for education and skills.

They were submitted to the county council’s planning department on December 22.

Karen Gilzene, headteacher of Waterfield Primary School, Bewbush (Pic by Jon Rigby)

If the plans receive approval, the expansion will include four new classrooms, an increase in size of the reception classroom, a new entrance to the school, additional car parking, new WCs and the remodelling of staff and admin areas.

A council spokesman said: “If the plans are approved, we hope building work can begin in May. This is an approximate date at this stage as the plans need to go through the planning and tendering processes.

“We are working closely with the school on the plans. The school will continue to operate while the building works take place and we are working with the school on how this is managed.”

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