Education

End of class in sight for temporary classrooms at Salisbury school

TEMPORARY classrooms at a Salisbury school will stay in place - until plans for a permanent structure are finalised.

Bishop Wordsworth School, in Exeter Street, has applied for retrospective planning permission to extend the time allowed for the temporary buildings.

Two buildings currently house four teaching areas at the 1,000-pupil school.

Funding has been approved for a new, permanent block to replace them, but while plans are being drawn up, the permission for the temporary structures has expired.

“This is a temporary extension for these buildings while a planning application is prepared for a new permanent teaching block to replace them,” the application said.

“It is intended that this will be submitted before the end of 2022 and therefore an extension to the existing planning permission is required.”

Permission for the mobiles was initially approved in 1994, the application says, with the extension simply to ‘a permanent teaching block has been approved and built’.

“The extension of the existing application for the location of the temporary classrooms will allow the school to use these buildings while the application is being assessed and determined,” it adds.

“It is hoped that through carrying out these works the reliance on temporary accommodation across the school site will be reduced and new purpose-built teaching accommodation can be provided for the school.”

The scheme is now out to consultation, before being considered by Wiltshire Council. For more details, and to comment on the plans, log on to www.wiltshire.gov.uk and search for application reference PL/2022/09219.

Picture: Google The temporary classrooms currently in situ at the school

Adult education programmes rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted inspectors

ADULT and community education programmes in Wiltshire have been rated as ‘good’ by inspectors.

Services provided by Wiltshire Council have been inspected by Ofsted, with their report saying learners ‘feel well supported by tutors who help them build their self-confidence and improve their wellbeing’.

The inspectors carried out an inspection of the Family and Community Learning service, known as FaCL, in November.

FaCL provides education programmes for adults in well-being, skills for independent living and work skills.

The council also provides programmes in English for speakers of other languages who are resettling in the county.

Cllr Laura Mayes, pictured, cabinet member for education and skills, said she was ‘delighted’ with the rating. “Wiltshire Council is committed to ensuring that people are empowered and have the skills to lead full and enriched lives,” she said. “I am delighted that Ofsted recognised the quality of the courses provided by our Family and Community Learning service during their inspection. “Inspectors noted the productive partnerships that have been established with charitable and community organisations. Courses are jointly planned to meet the needs of residents.

“An example of this is the collaboration with Wiltshire Councils FUEL programme, with courses scheduled at a venue close to where the adult learners’ children participated in sports and healthy eating activities.”

Clifford Shaw, the lead Ofsted inspector, wrote in his report: “Learners enjoy their courses and attend regularly, and most complete their learning programmes in full and successfully.

“They feel well supported by tutors who help them build their self-confidence and improve their well-being.

“Leaders have responded quickly and devised an ambitious curriculum to meet the needs of refugees resettling in the United Kingdom.

“They work closely with other services provided by Wiltshire Council, such as housing, transport, and children’s services, to support adults and their families to take part in learning and be part of their communities.”

FaCL has a number of courses upcoming in January including wellbeing and boosting employability skills.

For more information on courses and how to apply, visit the Work Wiltshire website at workwiltshire.co.uk/family-andcommunity-learning.