The long-awaited redevelopment of a ‘tired’ school described as requiring significant improvements has been approved.
Framwellgate School in Durham will be rebuilt to replace the current outdated teaching facilities.
Specialist teaching spaces for ICT, technology and science will be built within a new three-storey building. Most of the site’s existing buildings will be demolished, except the sports hall.
A Durham County Council planning committee unanimously approved the rebuild scheme. It will be phased to ensure pupils can continue to be educated on site.
Construction is expected to begin in the coming months, with the new building ready to accept pupils from September 2027, when schoolchildren will decant into their new accommodation. During construction on the new school building, a temporary access will be created from Old Pit Lane.
“The development aims to provide a high-quality learning environment to support Framwellgate School in providing a welcoming, safe and secure environment for both pupils and the whole community,” Framwellgate School said.
The school was identified for redevelopment by the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme in 2022 after repeated reports of flooding, severe overcrowding, and health and safety issues.
Many classrooms on-site were previously described as being inaccessible. “Our school was designed and built predominantly in the 1960s and is old and tired, and very poorly designed,” former headteacher Andy Byers said.
Councillor Mark Wilkes, local Liberal Democrat county councillor, said locals have campaigned for a new school for two decades.
The newbuild will also allow the school to increase its pupil roll from 1,375 to 1,600.
