Westcliff Lancaster School expansion approved for demand

Lancaster School, in Prittlewell Chase, Westcliff, has been given the green light by Southend Council to convert a former dining hall and kitchen into three new classrooms, along with the construction of a new single-storey extension.

The extension will help create a purpose-built multi-use hall and music room.

CGI - Plans for Lancaster School in Westcliff (Image: Southend Planning Portal)

This expansion comes as the school grapples with an increase in pupil numbers.

Since opening, numbers of pupils at Lancaster School have continued to increase yearly.

There were 77 pupils on roll in 2018, and this has risen to the current 131, many of whom require additional space for mobility equipment such as walking frames and wheelchairs.

Laurie Burton, councillor responsible for children, young people, and SEND, said: “Lancaster is a highly regarded school who do so much for children with additional needs.

“It is fantastic news that they are expanded as it will mean children can benefit more from the fantastic education they offer.”

The existing dining and assembly hall had become insufficient to meet the school’s needs, unable to cater to the number of pupils at lunchtime or during assemblies.

The kitchen, no longer in use for preparing school meals, was deemed outdated, with meals currently being prepared off-site and delivered daily.

As such, the approved design includes the repurposing of the kitchen and dining hall into essential classroom space.

The school’s new multi-use hall will provide much-needed communal space, reinstating the ability to hold assemblies and provide on-site dining.

It is hoped the new facilities can be completed in time for the start of the 2025 academic year, offering much-needed space and infrastructure to support the expanding school community.

This development aligns with broader trends in the local and national education sectors, where the need for additional SEN spaces continues to grow.