Plans have been approved to replace deteriorating classrooms at a Cardiff primary school that have been described as 'no longer suitable for safe or effective teaching'. The council has lodged an application to itself to replace an ageing demountable classroom and toilet block with two Portakabin classrooms at St David's Primary School in Cardiff.
Urgent Need for Replacement
The current buildings are described as being in urgent need of replacement. Planning documents state: 'The new temporary buildings will provide essential teaching and learning space, including accommodation for children with assisted learning needs, ensuring continuity of education while a permanent long term solution is developed.'
The problems with the current two deteriorating demountable classroom buildings include persistent water ingress through the roof and external envelope, repeated but unsuccessful repair attempts, and having reached and exceeded their intended operational lifespan.
No Alternative Spaces Available
The application reads: 'The school has no alternative internal spaces that could be repurposed to meet the accommodation need. Without replacement facilities, the school's ability to deliver high quality education—particularly for pupils requiring additional support—would be significantly compromised.'
The new classrooms are planned to be in place for five years, which reflects 'the realistic timeframe required to secure funding, complete design work, and deliver permanent improvements to the broader school site.'
Modern and Safe Teaching Environment
According to the application, the new classrooms will provide modern, safe and compliant teaching accommodation, support the school's broad and balanced curriculum, and ensure continuity of education while a permanent solution is developed. The proposed buildings will include two classrooms along with support spaces such as storage areas, an office, toilet facilities and a small lobby to provide a functional and efficient internal layout.
Planning documents also note that the school's existing accommodation is already at capacity and cannot meet the growing demand for specialist teaching space. The proposed temporary buildings will ensure that pupils with additional learning needs can continue to receive appropriate support within a safe, modern, and purpose designed environment.
