FAQs

The Department for Education have appointed the contractor Galliford Try to design and build a new school building for St Francis Catholic Primary School to replace the existing building that has been found to contain Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).

The new school is to be located on the approximate footprint of the existing school building following its demolition.

It is proposed to rebuild the school through the Department for Education’s School Rebuilding Programme. The proposal is to replace the existing building with a new two storey school building located. The proposals will also include new play areas and landscaping, revised parking arrangements, a multi-use games area and the reinstatement of the school playing field. Additional temporary buildings are also proposed; all temporary buildings will be removed from the site when the new building is completed.

The new school building does not propose to increase the number of staff or pupils.

Galliford Try have been appointed to build the new school building. Galliford Try is one the leading contractors in the country and have extensive experience of delivering education projects throughout the UK.

Galliford Try are members of the Considerate Constructors Scheme, a voluntary scheme meaning that registered contractors and organisations are active in trying to improve the way they work, by raising their standards in being more considerate to communities, the environment and their own workforce.

Subject to securing planning permission it is hoped that the development will be commenced in the Spring 2026.

It is anticipated that the new school building, MUGA and landscaping will take approximately 80 weeks to be built.

The school will have access to 14 parking spaces to comply with Council policy. The remaining spaces will be available for use by the Church with all spaces being available for use by the Church during the evenings and at weekends.

The layout of the site ensures that sufficient space will be maintained to allow all servicing of the school and church to be undertaken on site.

The proposals seek to retain as many existing trees as possible. Just 2 trees are proposed to be removed due to falling within the footprint of the proposed school building and MUGA. A section of hedgerow also needs to be removed to allow 2 accessible parking spaces to be provided as close to the main school entrance as possible.

It is proposed to plant 24 new trees.

All existing trees along the boundaries of the site are proposed to be retained and protected during construction unless they are found to be in poor or unsafe condition.

The current proposals include a single building that is arranged over part single storey and part two storey.

The consultation will run from the 8th to the 30th of July 2025.

We are hoping to submit the planning application in August 2025.

You can submit your views via the comments box and/or answering the questions by clicking here.

During the consultation you can also contact the team via e-mail with any comments or questions:

E-mail: stfrancisprimary@hattonplanning.co.uk

We are also holding a public consultation event where you will be able to see the plans and members of the Project Team will be available to answer questions and hear your views.

The consultation event will be held in the temporary hall at St Francis Catholic Primary School, Coronation Road, Ascot, SL5 9HG

on:     Wednesday 16th July between 3pm & 8pm