Rugby kids get to keep their primary school as Rokeby education plan altered - The Rugby Observer

Rugby kids get to keep their primary school as Rokeby education plan altered

Rugby Editorial 27th May, 2016 Updated: 27th Oct, 2016   0

ROKEBY Primary School pupils will no longer have to move to new premises, after plans to use the building for a new special school were altered.

In February, plans were announced to move the school to a new site and adapt its current Anderson Avenue home for a new Special Free School.

But feedback from residents and discussions between Warwickshire County Council (WCC) and the Education Funding Agency (EFA) have led to a change of plan.

Rokeby Primary will now remain at its current site, where parents and staff have worked hard in recent months to expand its urban farm and clear undergrowth to create a nature area and an outdoor classroom.




Extra off-road parking and drop-off space will also be provided. There are currently no plans to further expand the school.

The Special School, due to open in 2017, will now be housed on a new site on the neighbouring Rokeby Sports Ground – originally earmarked for Rokeby Primary – subject to planning permission.


Coun Kam Kaur, Warwickshire County Council’s ward councillor for Caldecott, said: “I have spoken to many local residents in recent weeks and months and I have raised any concerns expressed to me with the EFA and officers at the County Council.”

She added the EFA had assured her the playing field would be restored to its previous condition, after 3m-deep trenches were left in the ground this week by contractors conducting initial survey work.

She said: “This work is required so a feasibility study can be carried out and an application can be submitted.

“I will be keeping a close eye on the works which are taking place and will ensure that the site is returned to its previous condition.

“If any resident has concerns about the condition of the fields after the contractors have completed their work then please contact me at any time.”

Plans for two new schools to be built on the playing fields – the Special School and a new Rugby Free Secondary School (RFSS) – are expected to be submitted in the autumn.

RFSS is set to welcome its first year intake to the Primary School’s neighbouring former site in September, and move to its new premises in 2018.

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