The Islamia Primary School rebuilding scheme

Islamia Primary School is hoping to build a new two-storey school on part of its existing site, to provide 21st century education and learning opportunities for its pupils.

The current school was built over one hundred years ago and the buildings no longer meet pupil or teacher needs.

Islamia Primary is also an extremely popular and over-subscribed school, on average receiving ten applications for every place available, and it urgently needs to expand to cater for the current pupils on roll and to meet the growing demand for places across the borough.

At the start of the new term in September 2010 the school took on an additional 30-place reception class, taking its numbers to 380 pupils in total.

The proposed new school building - scheduled for completion in spring 2012 - will take in a small, additional number of 40 pupils. As of September 2011, all new pupils will have to live within the catchment area of the school, which will mean significantly fewer children travelling in from outside the borough.

To help finance the project, the school is to receive funding from the Department for Education (DfE) and the council. The school is also making a ten per cent contribution towards the cost of the re-build, which will mostly be met through fundraising.

The proposals include demolishing the kitchen, canteen and other outdoor buildings to provide new modern facilities. The children will continue to be taught in the existing building (and the separate off site annexe at nearby Winkworth Hall) and will move into the new accommodation when they are completed in 2012.