Ryton school expansion application set for council decision

Gateshead councillors are poised to decide on an application for an extension for a Ryton school.

The local authority's planning and development committee will meet next week to consider plans to demolish a south facing wall of the dining hall of Thorpe Academy and replace it with a two-storey extension. According to council documents, the addition would provide more ground floor dining space and 10 new classrooms.

The school's application goes on to say that the school has seen an increase of around 100 pupils in September, largely attributed to new housing developments in the catchement area. It is also expected that a further 70 pupils will arrive at the school next Septmeber.

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The surplus of pupils are currenlty being accommodated in temporary classrooms. Council officers said that the proposed extension would see the need for temporary classroom units removed. They have recommended the plans be approved by the committee.

A planning statement on behalf of the school by DPP Planning stated: "Overall, the proposal will have clear benefits for pupils, staff and residents of Ryton who would have access to better educational and dining hall facilities. Whilst there would inevitably be some temporary disruption to the school, this can be appropriately managed through the accompanying Construction Methodology & Logistics Plan.

"The proposal will help to meet the need for secondary school places in Ryton and wider area, and will provide a high-quality teaching environment for pupils, replacing temporary accommodation that pupils will be learning in from September 2024."

Thorp Academy was allocated over £330,000 to provide the school with the staffing and additional resources to deal with expanding class sizes in January 2023.

Councillors will convene on Wednesday, December 4, at 10am in the Civic Centre to make a determination on the application.