A new school in a growing Nottinghamshire village has made progress after full plans for the site were revealed. Fresh details of the new Millside Spencer Academy on Rempstone Road in East Leake have been outlined in the latest set of planning documents put forward by Nottinghamshire County Council.
The permanent building for Millside Spencer Academy will be built with capacity for 315 primary pupils and a 26 place nursery. It is being planned in order to fulfil the need created by nearby housing developments such as The Skylarks estate, and developers say it will "satisfy projected demand for primary school places in East Leake".
The green light for the plan to create the "learning village" in Sheepwash Way, East Leake for 12 months ahead of the permanent school being built was given approval by Nottinghamshire County Council's policy committee in December 2021. Councillors had previously voiced concerns that plans for the temporary school could cause ‘chaos’ at drop off and pick up times.
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Councillor Carys Thomas, who represents East Leake on Rushcliffe Borough Council, said: "It is definitely a great for the area and the sooner it goes up the better. It is obvious that people need places for children to go to school. And if they can be in the village so people don't have to send their children outside of that area that would be good.
"The plans moving forward is a good sign as we need a new school and I look forward to this one opening. I know that there are concerns about a possible lack of school places locally.
"I do not think that there will be many people not wanting a new school here. But there may be some concerns about things like parking and access around the school."
The permanent Millside Spencer Academy building will be required to be operational for September 2023 in order to continue the education of pupils admitted in September 2022, who will be educated in the academy’s temporary building for the academic year 2022/23. For general public visitors, the main school reception/entrance will be accessed from the South off the car park and Evans Road.
A separate pedestrian access for pupils is provided off the public right of way to the West. Children will then access the school via the tarmac playground into their respective classrooms rather than the main entrance and there is a separate Nursery/Reception entrance and secure play area. A formal grass and artificial surface pitch are provided on the Southern portion of the site.
Planners say that the site is to serve the new housing developments to the edge of East Leake adjacent the site and the village itself. And that the school has been located on the southern piece of land to give a closer relationship to the adjacent housing development.
Chairman of the county council’s children and young people’s committee, Councillor Tracey Taylor, said: “The council’s consultation for the new permanent primary school is still ongoing, but a new school for the expanding village of East Leake will be a huge bonus.
“We said in our ambitious council plan that this council is committed to providing sufficient school places and giving parents greater choice. East Leake getting a new primary school would show our plan is working.
“The new school on Rempstone Road would offer 315 primary places plus a 26-place nursery – I’m pleased with our offer. It would be our intention for the new permanent primary school to be up and running in time for the start of the school year in 2023.
“For the 2022/23 academic year, we are building a temporary ‘learning village’ to cater for pupils in East Leake as works on the new permanent school take place.”
