Wiltshire schools are preparing to welcome hundreds of service children, who will be making their home in the county later this year.
As part of the Army Basing Programme some 4,000 Service Personnel and their families will move to Wiltshire this summer.
Wiltshire Council has worked closely with partners to ensure the county is ready for its newest residents.
Since the announcement of the Regular Army Basing Plan in 2013, collaboration has been essential to ensure there is sufficient infrastructure, health facilities and school places available.
The school build programme, funded by the MOD, has involved creating new schools and the expansion of some school sites.
In total there will be an additional 90 early years, 750 primary and 375 secondary school places available.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook, OBE, Leader of Wiltshire Council said: “After many years of preparation and planning we are now on the home straight and ready to welcome the Service Personnel and their families from Germany.
“Partnership working has been so important to ensure essential works are carried out and we are grateful to local residents for their understanding as those works have been ongoing.
“We recognise the huge contribution, both economic and social, the military personnel and their families bring to the county and we are looking forward to welcoming them later this year.”
The school build programme includes:
- Expansion of Kiwi Primary School, Bulford, for additional 150 places
- Expansion of St Leonards Primary School, Bulford, for additional 50 pupils
- Creation of St Michaels Primary School, Larkhill, for 420 pupils and 60 nursery places
- Expansion of Avon Valley College, Durrington, for additional 270 pupils
- Expansion of Wellington Academy, Tidworth, for additional 300 pupils
- Creation of Wellington Eagles Primary School, Tidworth, for 420 pupils and 30 nursery places
Although Wellington Eagles Primary will open in September 2019, pupils will initially be based (term 1) in a modern, 12 classroom block to the rear of the Wellington Academy Secondary School which is directly opposite the new school site.
The newly renovated building is being used as an interim measure, while additional remediation work takes place on their new school site which will open later in the Autumn term. The interim building has its own self-contained playground and grassland area. Prospective Wellington Eagles and Eagles Nest Nursery pupils and their parents are invited to Open Days at the Wellington Academy on Thursday 28 February, 4-6pm and Friday 1 March, 10 – 12:00 noon to find out more detail.
Mark Duddy, Army Basing Programme Director said: “The provision of school places is a pivotal piece of the Army Basing plan. We have been working closely with Wiltshire Council since 2013 to ensure that all supporting facilities and infrastructure is provided. I am delighted that such progress has been made across Salisbury Plain to welcome the children back from Germany and those moving within the UK.”
