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Enhanced learning capacity secured for East Leake pupils

A former caretaker’s bungalow at Brookside Primary School in East Leake will be used to provide learning and teaching capacity for pupils.

It follows an agreement by Nottinghamshire County Council to lease the bungalow to the Equals Trust, the multi-academy trust that runs the school day-to-day.

As part of the lease conditions, Equals Trust has agreed to refurbish the out-of-use bungalow to provide classroom space to help meet the growing demand for education capacity in East Leake.

Commenting on the lease agreement for the bungalow, Councillor Keith Girling, county council Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, said it was a ‘win-win situation.’

He said: “I’m delighted to have decided to lease the former caretaker’s bungalow to Equals Trust for classroom space - it is a win-win situation for both the school and us.

“This agreement will expand education provision at Brookside Primary School while simultaneously reducing the council’s building expenditure.

“I look forward to working with Equals Trust to get the bungalow fit for purpose to provide an excellent classroom experience for our schoolchildren.”

The council is currently overseeing the building of a new primary school on Rempstone Road in the village as a part of a longer-term solution for more education capacity locally.

It is intended that the new school – which Spencer Academies Trust will run - will open in September 2023 and offer a capacity for 315 primary places and a 26-place nursery.

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Tracey Taylor, said: “This is really good news for Brookside Primary School. They first contacted one of their divisional county councillors, Matt Barney, for help last year and we visited this wonderful school together.

"I’m grateful to Cllrs Girling and Adair and officers that they’ve been able to find a solution that works in the best interests of the children.”

Councillor Reg Adair, Deputy Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, has welcomed both the lease agreement and plans for more education capacity locally.

Councillor Adair said: “I’m very pleased with this lease agreement, which will meet the needs of local pupils in our village and result in greater use of the bungalow.

“As someone who is very much involved in the East Leake community, it is clear that the council has an ongoing and steadfast commitment to boosting education opportunity in south Nottinghamshire.”