A PRIMARY school is hoping to build four new classrooms so it can accommodate around 100 extra pupils in the coming years.

Framwellgate Moor Primary School, in Durham, says it needs the extra teaching space to cope with growing pupil numbers.

The school in Newton Drive has applied for planning permission to build three classrooms for the infant school and one for the reception, as well as two rooms to be used by children with special educational needs (SEN), a covered play area, staff parking, parent’s waiting area and link corridor to connect the nursery to the school.

The school currently has 212 pupils and plans to increase the number of children attending by 15 each year over the next seven years to each a new capacity of 315.

There will be no new places at the nursery.

Durham County Council’s education team has supported the application.

Graeme Plews, from the department, said: “This is a much needed scheme to enable sufficient primary school places to be provided to meet current and future demand. It is therefore fully supported by the Education Service.”

The school is proposing to also increase the number of full time teachers from 10 to 15 and teaching assistants from 17 to 21, as well as 11 new part-time roles, including cleaners, kitchen staff and supervisory assistants.

The scheme will involve felling several trees to make way for the drop off point for the nursery.

If approved, it is anticipated that the extension to the reception would be completed by the end of August 2018, and the three infant classrooms by March 2019.