COUNCILLORS have approved plans for additional classroom facilities at a school – despite concerns about the site becoming a ‘naughty block’.

Proposals to develop additional classroom facilities at Cowley International College – which is anticipating demand for further places – came before the planning committee at its meeting on Tuesday.

The application proposed the single-storey double classroom modular unit on an area of hardstanding at the site, on Hard Lane.

Cllr Seve Gomez-Aspron – who is the deputy council leader – stated that he has ‘no problem’ with the principle of the application.

He said: “The only thing I would say is it’s important when you’re expanding and improving schools not to segregate kids to somewhere else, and it’s quite easy to see how that would become the naughty block on the school, and I’ve worked in schools where that’s the same.”

He added it is ‘fine’ as a temporary measure but highlighted the importance of finding a ‘long-term solution’ that ‘doesn’t segregate the kids going over there’.

The committee was told there is a condition which ‘requires its removal’ after five years and that is ‘very clearly a temporary permission’, and if it was to be required for a further period another application would need to be submitted.

The application site relates to an area of hard standing to the south of the college site and to the north of Princess Avenue.

The college site covers two distinct large areas totalling 7.92 hectares and is made up of school buildings playgrounds and grassed areas.

A residential housing estate sits to the south and west of the site, while the properties to the north of Princess Avenue adjoin the college’s southern boundary.

The application is for the temporary provision of a mobile double-classroom unit, to include two WCs and a storage area and entrance.

The proposed mobile classroom will be located at the rear entrance of the school, with a purpose to increase the capacity of teaching facilities and provide additional resources to the existing school due to growing pupil numbers

A report to the committee said Cowley International College is ‘anticipating a demand for additional places over the next academic years’.

It added: “Additional classroom space is required to accommodate a proportion of the total intake as well as provide some separate space for children with further needs or behavioural issues.”