School abandons plan to move site out of town (From The Northern Echo)

School abandons plan to move site out of town

5:02am Friday 21st March 2008

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GOVERNORS have scrapped plans to try to overturn a decision blocking a £50m school relocation project.

The governors of Yarm School unanimously agreed last year to appeal against the refusal by Stockton borough councillors to allow the school to move to a 120-acre out-of-town site.

But now the move has been dropped, with the school citing economic uncertainty and a significant fall in residential development land values as the main reasons.

The school's proposal, recommended for approval by the council's planning officers but rejected by councillors, was to move the school from the town to a site on the edge of Yarm, at Town End Farm, off the A67.

School officials are now working with architects and planning advisors to look at alternatives, including investment into new facilities on the current site.

They will also seek the opinions of Stockton Borough Council, local businesses and people in the community as to what is best for the site.

Headteacher David Dunn said: "Lots of people have told us that we have a beautiful site and so we are now focusing our attention on an ambitious masterplan for some really exciting new facilities as soon as possible.

"The school is hugely popular and highly successful, so we are determined to provide additional stunning facilities for our pupils.

"I know people will be very impressed when we unveil our plans."

The school is ranked by The Times as one of the 50 best independent schools in the UK for GCSEs.

It is also involved in a Government-backed Gifted and Talented programme, sharing expertise and facilities with five local state schools.

Council planning officers had recommended the school's plans for approval, but the scheme was refused by councillors on the grounds that it failed to comply with regional and national policies.

Local residents objected to the project, saying the move would cause traffic congestion and affect the environment.

When the plans went before councillors, Mr Dunn said the relocation plan was linked to Teesside's regeneration agenda and had the backing of the businesses community.

Former Yarm School pupil James Wharton, the Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Stockton South, said: "This is sad for the school, but good news for the people who opposed the plans, particularly in the village of Kirklevington.

"I am confident that Yarm School will continue to thrive and offer high-quality education and will not let this setback slow their progress."

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