A PUBLIC consultation has launched for a new first school in Redditch.

The need for a new school is required due to new housing developments in the area specifically the huge estate off Foxlydiate Lane, Webheath which is set to deliver more than 2,500 homes by 2037.

Worcestershire County Council is proposing to deliver a new First School with a nursery, including wrap-around provision, located on a site off Foxlydiate Lane.

The school will open initially as a two-form-entry (60 places per year group) in 2027, when it is forecast that 30 children in each school year group will live on the new development, increasing to over 60 by 2030.

The school will open initially to Reception-aged children and will grow over time as it will take a new cohort of Reception children each September. 

The number of children is predicted to double by the time the development is completed and fully occupied, so the school will be built to a model that can easily be expanded to include additional classrooms when they are needed.

Additional middle and high school places required for pupils from the new development will be created by expanding existing local schools, says the county council.

Cllr Tracey Onslow, cabinet member with responsibility for education at Worcestershire County Council said: “Making sure children across the county have access to good quality education, which allows them to go on and reach their full potential, is a long-term priority for the County Council.

 “Our team works hard to consistently analyse the need for school places across the county.

"We are looking to deliver a new first school in Redditch to help us meet the need for first school provision in the town.

"It is really important for us to listen and consider the views of local residents and stakeholders as we look to take this exciting project forward.”

The school will be delivered by Worcestershire County Council and run by an academy sponsor.

The process to appoint the academy sponsor will run in the autumn term of 2023 and will follow the Department for Education (DfE) Free School Process.

People are being encouraged to fill out a survey to help the county council shape the school design specification and outline what is expected from an academy in applying to run this school.

The survey runs until August 4 2023 and responses can be submitted online at: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Redditch_New_First_School.

Anyone who requires a paper copy of the questionnaire can email NewFoxlydiateFirstSchool@worcestershire.gov.uk.