Oldbury school rebuild takes major step forward
Perryfields Academy is getting a multi-million pound rebuild because of its 'significantly deteriorating facilities.'
Major plans to rebuild a school in Oldbury, described as having 'significantly deteriorating facilities', have taken a step forward.
Perryfields Academy, part of the Broadleaf Partnership Trust, is among those being prioritised by the government's School Rebuilding Programme.
A feasibility study is now underway, with experts from the Department for Education deciding the best way forward to redevelop the site on Oldacre Road.
They will look at whether some of the existing buildings can be incorporated into the new layout, or whether a complete rebuild is needed.
Headteacher Clare Harris said: “We’re immensely proud to be in this area, and we want people to be proud of us.
“One of the things we’ve talked a lot about recently is we’re on a journey of improvement. Our students and staff are working incredibly hard in so many areas, and if we can give them buildings to match that spirit it’ll be so exciting to see where we can go.”
Chief Executive of the Broadleaf Partnership Trust Claire Pritchard said: “We’re hoping to get the outline options and drawn plans for the project soon and we can’t wait to share those with parents, carers and the community. This is a really exciting time but also we know we can’t stop.
“Perryfields was a school that desperately needed real investment; to help deliver that, to deliver a site to be proud of, and to deliver for the community our school serves will be one of the proudest achievements we could ever imagine.”
The rebuild is expected to take at least two years to complete, once the final plans have been signed off by the DfE.
Headteacher Clare Harris said: “Our existing buildings are challenging, and continuing to deliver the best teaching possible with construction taking place on site won’t be easy. But we’re up for the challenge, because we know what this will do for our school long term.”
Broadleaf CEO Claire Pritchard added: “This is a once in a lifetime chance to get this right for our community, so getting the views and perspective from those schools that feed into Perryfields is crucial.”
“We want to understand the emerging needs of pupils as well as fostering spaces that encourage sports, arts and other extra-curricular activities families are interested in, so we can hopefully provide facilities that are potentially lacking in Sandwell.”