£18million project to rebuild two Sunderland primary schools

Sunderland City Council’s ruling cabinet is set to agree the next steps for Sunningdale Primary and Hetton Primary.

This includes launching the process to increase the capacities at both schools and progressing capital works.

Sunningdale, a 110-place special school for children with learning and physical difficulties, has been identified as needing ‘significant capital refurbishment’ and is currently operating at over capacity.

As part of a £13.5million project, a new 136 place school will be rebuilt and relocated to a new site at Clinton Place in East Herrington.

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Hetton Primary School, which dates back to the 1960s, also needs a major refurbishment and is currently operating above capacity in the majority of year groups.

Around £4.9million has been allocated by council chiefs for a new build on the existing school site.

As well as additional classrooms for primary aged children, the new school will create early years provision for two to five-year-olds and create room for further school expansion as new housing is built in the area.

In total, the proposal would increase school capacity by 70 places to 210.

Cabinet member for children, learning and skills, Coun Louise Farthing, said: “All children and students deserve the very best education and the very best facilities.

“As a city council, we are committed to ensuring that every child gets the very best. I shall be urging my colleagues to back and progress the plans when we meet next week.”

Both school projects have been financially approved as part of the council’s wider budget plans earlier this year.

Subject to the cabinet decision, detailed plans will be developed with planning applications for both schemes expected to be submitted later this year.

The plans to increase the capacity at both schools includes community consultation that could begin in October this year.

Subject to all the necessary permissions, the suggested timetable is to have both schools open in 2022.

During Covid-19, the city council’s cabinet has begun meeting remotely with meetings available on the council’s YouTube channel.

The cabinet meeting will be live-streamed from 10am on Tuesday July 14 and can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Tr0hnRKgLg&feature=youtu.be

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