Plans have come forward for a temporary teaching block for the first students of a new school being built in the city.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's planning committee unanimously approved proposals for the Florence MacWilliams Academy, which is earmarked for land previously part of Longton High School and the former Meir Sports and Social Club in Meir, in November.

Now an application has been submitted for temporary teaching facilities at the site for an 18-month period.

The temporary school will accommodate 122 pupils and is proposed to open in September (Bowmer and Kirkland).

A planning statement submitted as part of the latest application said: "The proposed temporary school will accommodate 122 pupils. It is proposed to open in September 2024 and will assist in delivering necessary school places on a temporary basis while the permanent accommodation for Florence MacWilliams Academy is delivered.

"The proposed temporary teaching block is broadly rectangular in shape and will be one storey in height. The block is proposed to lie adjacent to the southern boundary of the site.

"Appropriate separation distances will be maintained to nearby dwellings, and it is not thought that the location of the temporary teaching block will have a detrimental impact on the amenity of residents to the south of the site on The Grange. The rest of the site is comprised by hardstanding areas, areas of landscape and the new access road and car park within the site.

Once complete the new school and sixth form will provide places for up to 1,150 pupils (Bowmer and Kirkland).

"Whilst this application is not for the development of the permanent secondary school and sixth form, the proposed development will be essential in delivering necessary school places on a temporary basis. Comments received from the Education Authority on the full planning application for Florence MacWilliams Academy highlight that there is an identified need for secondary school places in this area of Stoke-on-Trent, and in essence underlines the necessity of delivering more school places."

The school and sixth form will eventually provide places for up to 1,150 pupils. But it will initially open to Year Seven pupils in the first year – and the first cohort will be taught in temporary accommodation from September.

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