Home Local News Increased school places at Balshaw Lane Primary School, Chorley

Increased school places at Balshaw Lane Primary School, Chorley

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The new term has meant some new facilities for children and staff at Balshaw Lane Primary School.

Extra facilities at the school in Euxton, Chorley, include new classrooms, a resource room, intervention rooms, a larger main hall and a new staff room. Externally, additional car parking, a hard play area, and a Multi-Use Games Area have also been provided.

The new facilities are available at the school on Bredon Avenue, thanks to an investment of nearly £4m by Lancashire County Council. The school already has an Ofsted rating of Outstanding.

External landscaping still needs to be completed, and will be undertaken in the correct planting season.

The extra facilities were needed due to a rise in the birth rate coupled with significant housing development in the area.

To cope with this increase in numbers, the extension at the school means that the school is now able to accept an extra 15 pupils in reception class each September from this academic year.

The expansion increases the number of pupils who are admitted every year into Reception to 60, taking the future overall capacity of the school to 420 pupils.

County Councillor Susie Charles, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, said: “I’m so impressed by the quality of these new facilities and the fantastic learning environment created for the pupils.

“We’ve been able to expand a popular school that did not have the places that it needed for its growing population. I’m delighted that we’ll be able to provide a further 15 extra pupil places from this month.

“We are constantly reviewing changing demographic factors to make sure the number and location of the school places we provide are adequate throughout Lancashire. It’s great that we’ve been able to offer these extra places which will be a real boost for the local community.

“Congratulations to everyone who has played a part in this. I hope that the children are enjoying their new facilities.”

The Headteacher at Balshaw Lane Community Primary School, Helen Gregson, said: “I am delighted that we’ve been able to welcome more pupils to our school.

“There is always a high demand to attend this school, which obviously causes a pressure on places. Hopefully this will now be eased.”

The building was designed in-house by Lancashire County Council’s Design and Construction team.

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