Expansion approved as part of work to 11 schools

A primary school's £2.2m expansion as part of work approved for 11 city schools in Derby has been approved.

Wren Park Primary School in Mickleover will have two existing classrooms replaced with a new four-room block, and a multi-use games area will also be built.

Head teacher Alex Buckley said he was "delighted" with the changes - which will allow the school to admit an extra 42 pupils.

At a meeting this week, Derby City Council approved a total of £3m in government funding for school improvements, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Mickleover Primary and Ridgeway Infant, which are both operating beyond their expected lifespans, will have structural timber window panels and posts replaced to prevent potential school closures.

Blocked drains beneath Meadow Farm Community Primary will be replaced with a new pipe accessible from the playground, and surface water drainage will be upgraded.

Murray Park and Lord Street Community Nursery will be re-roofed, while Ashgate Primary will have work carried out to address leaks.

Dale Community Primary's "obsolete and failing" boilers and pumps will be replaced with "hybrid" heating fed by an air source heat pump and gas boilers, while the main block of Rosehill Infant and Nursery and Redwood Primary will also have obsolete boilers replaced.

Window replacement works will continue at Roe Farm Primary.

Council leader Paul Hezelgrave said work would be carried out in the summer holiday "so learning is not disrupted".

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.