You may be aware that Cambridgeshire County Council has a legal responsibility to keep the number of school places under review and to take the appropriate steps to manage that position.

Following a long period of falling birth rates across Cambridgeshire, more children have been born in the County in recent years; this trend is forecast to continue for the foreseeable future. Locally, Cambridge has seen the greatest change. Information from the National Health Service and work undertaken by the Council’s Research Group indicate that, without the action which the Council has already taken, and plans to take, to meet its statutory duty, demand for primary school places across the City would exceed the number of school places available for the foreseeable future. A consultation document to obtain the views of parents, staff and governors on a number of proposals to increase primary school provision in the south of Cambridge was published in November 2009. These proposals included the establishment of a new primary school in the south of the City.

This new primary school will be established in Gunhild Way, on the site which is currently used by the Netherhall Lower School. Netherhall will vacate the buildings that are currently on the site at the end of the summer term, the existing buildings will be demolished and new primary school accommodation will be provided.

The school will open in 2011 with places for up to 60 children entering Reception. In each subsequent year, a further 60 Reception places will be available for entry to the school in September. Ultimately, the school will provide places for 420 children. The scheme proposals include the provision of a main hall, studio, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 classroom accommodation, Reception facilities, early years facilities, library, group rooms, special educational needs provision, and an Information Technology centre which will encourage both formal and informal learning through different media formats. External improvements will involve modeling and designing playground areas, creating informal play spaces, enhancing the nature area (and biodiversity generally) and providing site cycle and car parking provision. It is also intended to provide new fencing to the boundary to enhance site security and improve access between play areas and classrooms.

After working with the County Council over a number of months, we are satisfied that the scheme will meet the education needs of the school and the available budget, and now consider that the plans are sufficiently advanced to share with the wider community.

Subject to completion of the consultation and instructions to proceed, it is our intention to submit a formal planning application for the new school in the coming weeks.

We would very much appreciate your views on the draft proposals and would like to invite you to inspect the plans, which will be shown and explained at Netherhall Lower School, Gunhild Way, on the 29th March 2010 starting from 5pm. You are also welcome to leave any feedback during the workshop on the forms provided or contact me direct via email or telephone. My contact details are included below.

We believe that the project represents an exciting opportunity and we look forward to the scheme gathering momentum over the coming weeks.

If you have any queries or wish to make any comments on the current proposals please contact:

Margherita Cesca – Architect

Capita Architecture, Clarendon House, Clarendon Road, Cambridge CB2 8FH Tel 01223 326640 Fax 01223 326650 www.capitaarchitecture.co.uk

The original letter can be downloaded as a .PDF below:

  Gunhild Way Community Consultation (21.1 KiB, 488 hits)