Building foundations are being laid for the new Fossebrook Primary School that will provide primary years education to pupils living in Leicester Forest East and Braunstone Town.
The £4 million school will be ready for its first intake, of Foundation and years 1 and 2 pupils, in September 2016 and will eventually provide 210 places, with the potential to expand as demand increases over the next few years.
Fossebrook is being developed by Leicestershire County Council and will take pupils from Leicester Forest East and Braunstone Town and help to ease the pressure on three other local schools resulting from increased births, more families moving into the area and new housing developments.
Councillor Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for children and families, said:
This month has seen the start of this exciting project to provide first class education in a new state-of-the-art school for primary age children in the area. Pupil forecasts have shown that there is a real need to create these additional places, particularly to meet the early demand we expect from the new 4,000 home development at Lubbesthorpe.
Person:Councillor Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for children and families
The Discovery Schools Academy Trust has been selected to sponsor the school and a Head Teacher has been appointed. Between now and next September, new Head Kathie Wade will select and appoint staff and work with her new team to prepare the school for its first pupil intake.
Mrs Wade said: “I am delighted to have been given the unique opportunity to lead the development of Discovery Fossebrook Primary School as it takes its place within the local community which it will serve. My goal is to provide excellence in all areas of primary provision for all pupils and families who make this their school of choice."
The single-storey school is being built by Wilmott Dixon at Holmfield Avenue West, in Leicester Forest East, on land that is already owned by the council.
The cost of building the new school is being met by £54 million government funding given to the council by the Department of Education for school places. A strategy spelling out how this money will be used is in place, and says that creating extra primary school places across the county is the top priority.
More details about the school are available on the school proposal webpage
More information about the Discovery Schools Academy Trust is available on the discovery school trust website