‘Big step forward’ First glimpse of planned £11m village eco-school
HERE’S a peek at how the new £11 million eco-school planned for Bishop’s Cleeve, near Cheltenham, will look.
Gloucestershire County Council wants to build Greenacres Primary Academy on land to the north of the village, next to the Old Farmers Arms in Evesham Road.
Designs for the carbon neutral school were available for the public to view during a public consultation drop-in event last week.
They show a main school building, a separate nursery building, a playground, playing fields, two multi-use games areas and a car park.
The school will initially open to 60 reception children in two forms of entry in September 2023. It will be gradually expanded in line with housing growth to three forms of entry by 2030, and when full will accommodate 630 pupils.
The drop-in follows an event held in September that allowed the public to view, and comment on, the final three designs for the school.
Feedback on the final proposals will be used to help form a planning application for the school, which is due to be submitted in December.
Councillor Philip Robinson (C, Mitcheldean), the council’s cabinet member for economy, education and skills, said: “Greenacres Primary Academy marks a significant investment by the council into schools and the future of children in our county.
“The 630 school places it will provide for the growing village of Bishop’s Cleeve are much-needed.”
Councillor Alex Hegenbarth (LD, Bishop’s Cleeve) said: “The new primary school in Bishop’s Cleeve is a big step forward and will allow more children to receive their education much nearer to home in the village.”
Claire Savory, director of academies for the Gloucestershire Learning Alliance, which will run the school, said: “We believe that education sits at the heart of any community, and Greenacres embodies this, establishing many links within Bishop’s Cleeve to not only broaden the life experiences of all our pupils but also those within, and beyond, our locality.
“Our vision of ‘Outstanding outcomes for children’ puts children at the centre of all that we do and ensures that we focus on consistently delivering quality first teaching. We look forward to meeting you at Greenacres Primary Academy very soon.”
The 630 school places it will provide … are much-needed
Councillor Philip Robinson