TAKELEY Primary School is moving to a brand new site at Priors Green in 2012 to address the increased population in the village.

Essex County Council (ECC) and the school’s governing body put together proposals for the relocation of the school and expansion of the student body from 210 to 420 in May.

In ECC’s report it says: “The total number of pupils in Takeley village is predicted to increase over time, primarily from significant current and proposed housing development at Priors Green, Takeley; the existing school buildings have insufficient capacity and facilities to accommodate future growth.

“The provision of a school site on the Priors Green development has provided an opportunity for the school to relocate and expand its capacity in new state of the art buildings, providing an environment that offers first-class facilities, resources and learning opportunities for the young children.”

Parent governor and chairman of the school’s committee in charge of the relocation Mark Gaby said: “We are all very pleased with the relocation. It gives all the school children in the ever-expanding village a great opportunity to learn in a fantastic new building.

“What the building does is make the teaching more flexible. The ways the curriculum can be taught can vary a lot more than before.

“The environment the children are taught in is paramount to their education and giving them a new building is part of that.”

The school is due to move from its current site in Roseacres to the new 4.77-acre plot in Bennett Canfield at the start of the academic year in 2012.

It will consist of 12 single-storey, pitched-roof brick buildings containing classrooms, a hall, kitchen, PE store, community room and reception area.

There will also be playing fields to the north and a play area to the south as well as raised plant beds and pupil allotments. A line of trees to the west of the site will stay.

According to an independent report by the Essex Design Review Panel ‘there has been a thorough and effective process of engagement with the school, although further opportunities for engagement with residents in the new housing could be pursued in tandem with those already engaged in the project via school connections.

‘The panel hopes the great deal of thought and design flair that has gone into the design can be carried through absolutely to the end result. The panel expects an excellent new school to be delivered.’