A village primary school has announced plans to build a dedicated early years site and a new permanent classroom for its oldest pupils.
The Rivers Multi Academy Trust has proposed the construction of a new Early Years building and a new classroom at Great Witley CE Primary School.
The application, which was submitted to Malvern Hills District Council on Tuesday, August 18, requests permission for a new 330 square-metre early years building to be built where the school currently has temporary portacabins used by years 5 and 6.
A separate application to move the portacabins to another part of the school site was approved by the council in April, with the intention to remove it once construction is completed.
LAYOUT: How the new early years’ building will look inside (Image: Malvern Hills District Council Planning)
The planning statement said: “The need for this new building arises from the growing number of children enrolled at the school, and the proposed development will provide a more permanent, purpose-built environment to support the expanding number of pupils.”
The nursery and reception pupils will both be taught in this building, with additional office, break room and storage areas for staff to use.
READ MORE: Owners of popular Worcester tearoom to bid farewell as search for successor begins
Parents and children attending the early years department will have their own gate to access the school’s grounds away from those in the main building.
The statement said: “Due to the proposed creation of the early years building, this has allowed us to free up a permanent classroom inside the school for the year 5 class to go. This left us with the need to create a classroom for the year 6 students.
“After exhausting all options, we have designed a 56 square-metre classroom building which ties in nicely with the main school building.”
READ MORE: Parasite from abroad with ‘very unpleasant’ symptoms sees cases rise in England
This new classroom will be attached to the rest of the school and will include a dedicated room for SEND provision.
GONE: The portacabins used by years 5 and 6 will be scrapped if the application is approved (Image: Malvern Hills District Council Planning)
The statement said: “This will benefit the years 5 and 6 classes most in the winter when they currently have to walk outside and across the playground in harsh weather to get to their classrooms.
“Our design means that everyone can stay inside the same building from the start of the day until the end of they day.”
READ MORE: All smiles as GCSE students across Worcester celebrate results day 2026
The planning application is open for consultation until September 24.
Anyone can make comments on application M/26/01002/FUL on the Malvern Hills planning portal.
