Funding approved for Glossopdale School expansion

The expansion of Glossopdale School has got the go-ahead after a £4m budget was approved by Derbyshire County Council.

The approval came at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday (23 January). 

The expansion will push the pupil population at the school on Newshaw Lane in Hadfield from the current 1,200 to a 1,400 capacity. 

A public consultation on the scheme will take place between February 24 to March 20, with the final outcome reported to the Cabinet. 

The consultation document is available on the Derbyshire County Council website at www.derbyshire.gov.uk/council/have-your-say or by request from Sue Pegg on 01629 536040 or by email to sue.pegg@derbyshire.gov.uk

Within four weeks of the publication of this notice, any person may object to or comment on the proposal by writing to the address or by sending an email to: Sue Pegg, Head of Development, Block C, Chatsworth Hall, Chesterfield Road, Matlock, Derbyshire DE4 3FW or sue.pegg@derbyshire.gov.uk

It is likely the extension would provide a multi-purpose space that could be used much-needed supplementary dining area. It would also lead to more covered areas that could help at break times.

The expansion plans came following anger in the town last summer, when many parents realised that the £23m school was not big enough for their children to start their secondary education. This meant they would have to attend an out of town school.

Councillors admitted the school was not big enough and extension talks got under way.

Council plans were said to be all about delivering the school in two phases - with the second coming later to provide places needed by more and more homes being built in the town.

Demand for places, however, became higher than expected due to a larger number of children leaving primary school. It became clear that the second phase needed to be brought forward.

When the replacement school was proposed, selling the former sites in Talbot Road were seen as an ‘integral part’ of funding the complex.

A start date for any expansion is not known and the project will also be subject to planning permission.

High Peak MP Robert Largan said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the Conservative Council have approved the budget for extending Glossopdale School. Along with Councillors Jean and George Wharmby and local parents, I’ve been pushing the council for the past year to get the school expanded. The extension is desperately needed so that parents can send their children to their local school, and this is a major step towards seeing the extension built." 

Cllr Alex Dale, DCC's Cabinet Member for Young People, said: “I’m really pleased that Cabinet colleagues and I have been able to agree a £4m budget for this project, marking another major step forward towards the much-needed expansion of this school. I know that there is still anxiety in the community around the need for additional places and now that the budget is in place and the formal consultation is approved, I want to assure families that we’ll continue working really hard to deliver on this project as soon as we’re able to."