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Deepings School: £1.5m development plan go-ahead
HUNDREDS of pupils are set to benefit from a £1.5million state-of-the-art conference centre if ambitious plans are given the green light.
The 160-seat conference centre would be the centrepiece of plans for a revamp at The Deepings School, in Park Road, Deeping St James.
Funding is in place for the plans, which are awaiting permission for planners at Lincolnshire County Council.
Headteacher Chris Beckett, said the facility would be a huge boost and would transform the “public face” of the school.
He said it will have a completely new look this time next year, adding: “I am delighted with the confirmation of the build – it will give us a wonderful facility for The Deepings, for our school, other partners and the local community.”
The new facility will be located on the old Park Road tennis courts, playground, additional car park and bus bay area.
It will provide the school with a new reception area, offices, classrooms on the ground floor and the 160-seat conference centre.
The conference centre will allow for multi-class lecture style lessons, external conferences, staff training and will also be available for community use.
Funding for it was granted under the Government’s 14-19 capital provision programme and is protected from cuts.
But, in light of Education Secretary Michael Gove’s recent announcement about the scrapping of the Building Schools for the Future scheme, Mr Beckett said he would only be completely satisfied that the cash was secure once work begins on the project.
He said: “The funding is part of 14-19 capital provision and is ring fenced.
“Of course, in the current climate I am keen to see people on site and some action – then I will be totally confident.”
The project has been in the pipeline for around a year and plans have gone through South Kesteven District Council.
They were passed on to Lincolnshire County Council and Mr Beckett says final sign off is “imminent.”
He said the site would be secured during the build with low -level fencing.
Mr Beckett said the school is in urgent need of more space because of the surge in demand from applicants impressed by its outstanding rating in its last Ofsted report.
The new building will have close to 30 parking spaces, a link corridor to the library entrance, landscaped surroundings – including an outdoor teaching area Contractors will be on site in the summer holidays, when the work is set to begin.
Other developments on the school site will include a traffic safety zone on Park Road, refurbishment of the science facilities, improvements to outdoor areas, further decoration of existing buildings and additional classrooms to cater for the school’s increased sixth form.
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