NEW and improved teaching facilities for Castle School’s sixth form building could be on the way.

The school has submitted a planning application for a redevelopment of the site and refurbishment of the existing structure that also include a number of measures to alleviate traffic problems on the road opposite the sixth form building.

Earlier this year plans for a joint sixth form centre for both Marlwood and Castle Schools was scrapped after they deemed the former council headquarters to be unsuitable.

The then acting headteacher at Castle School, Peter Smart, undertook a feasibility study at the former council offices but it was felt that it could not fulfil the needs of the joint sixth form.

Following that Castle School commissioned an architectural consultant who drew up plans for redevelopment on the site and refurbishment of the existing building.

Now an application has been submitted to build a new two storey teaching wing adjacent to the current sixth form building and a refurbishment of the existing structures at the Gloucester Road site.

The application seeks to retain use of the existing, main building of the sixth form centre and construct new teaching facilities in a new teaching site adjoined to the south west end of the site – on part of the school’s playing field.

The development would also see the number of off-street parking spaces doubled –from 24 to 48 – to ‘eliminate on street parking’ on Gloucester Road.

The two access gateways from Gloucester Road on to the site will also be dismantled and rebuilt to improve the visibility for cars turning on to the road.

Additional facilities for specialist subjects taught at the school would be provided within the extension to the new building alongside new staff offices.

The building is designed with a flat roof to ensure that it is not visible behind the existing sixth form building from Gloucester Road.

In line with the submission of the application, the school has been in contact with local residents to make them aware of the proposals.

The school’s new headteacher, Peter Smart, said: “This is something that we’ve been working on for a while.

“The redevelopment will allow us to continue offering high quality teaching but also to maintain the excellent standards that we give to students.

“It is important to stress that we want to retain the pleasant look of the main building from Gloucester Road.

“We are committed to providing high quality accommodation that supports our vision for excellence for education in our Sixth Form.”

The school will now be applying to the Educational Funding Agency who, they hope, will provide the school with the money required to cover the costs of the works.

The development would be completed in multiple phases. The first phase would see the construction of the new teaching wing to the side and rear of the existing site.

The second and third phases would mainly involve the refurbishment of the existing teaching blocks.