ONE of Somerset’s top performing primary schools, Stawley School, is to be demolished and rebuilt in a phased project which will see it stay open throughout the work.

Somerset Council is planning to build a new two-class primary school on the 1.1-acre site at Appley Cross, near Wellington, to secure its long-term future and benefit the village and its surrounding area.

Planning agent Phil Abraham, of LED Architects, said: “Stawley Primary School is managed and owned by Somerset Council and is one of the top performing primary schools in Somerset.”

But he said the existing cluster of temporary buildings with a series of covered areas and canopies had outlived their design life and ‘are in poor condition and the existing fabric has a very low thermal performance’.

A 3D sketch of the proposed new front entrance to Stawley School. IMAGE: LED Architects.
A 3D sketch of the proposed new front entrance to Stawley School. IMAGE: LED Architects. ( )

The temporary buildings included stepped entrances and exits and there were no accessible toilet facilities.

Mr Abraham said: “The existing hall built in 2016 is to be retained and will be incorporated into the new school layout.”

The existing canopy structure and associated external works would be relocated as part of the plans.

Mr Abraham said the 60-pupil school currently had mixed age classes for which additional break-out areas were incorporated, allowing classes to break into smaller teaching groups.

An extended roof structure to the rear of the classrooms offered extra covered outside teaching areas accessed directly from the classroom.

A view of Stawley School's existing entrance. PHOTO: LED Architects.
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The existing canopy on the eastern side of the school would be relocated to the south side of the new building.

Mr Abraham said the building design would also allow for a third classroom to be added if the number of pupils increased.

He said: “The proposed layout wraps around the existing hall building with the two new classrooms located on the western side facing toward the playing field.

“This orientation avoids classrooms overlooking any neighbouring properties.

“A centre or ‘heart’ of the school has been created to give additional break-out/group spaces and a library area, all with a good level of natural light and natural ventilation.

“The location of the new school building has been selected to allow the existing school to remain in operation during the construction phase and to enable the new school building to link directly with the retained school hall.”

Mr Abraham said the main entrance would be on the north elevation facing toward the school’s main entrance and play areas to offer better security and supervision of external areas.

Currently, the main school entrance was shared with the village shop, which had an attached house, and there was a row of four two-storey terraced houses to the south.

All of the new school entrances and exits would be fully accessible to pedestrian and wheelchair users, with external doorways incorporating level thresholds suitable for ambulant and wheelchair users, and there would be an accessible toilet and a new accessible reception area.

The new buildings would be fully electric with an air source heat pump heating system and solar panels and all materials would be sustainably sourced wherever possible.