Nottingham is to gain two brand new schools, the Government has announced today (Friday 14 June).

As part of a programme to increase school spaces where they are needed most, two local academy trusts have put in successful bids to the Department for Education – one for a primary school and another for a secondary school.

The primary school bid was submitted by Greenwood Academies Trust, for a 420-place school with a 60-place nursery in the Waterside area, which is currently being developed as Nottingham’s newest neighbourhood. The City Council included a school among the features it wants to see in the area, and Greenwood has worked with the council to develop its proposals.

The Trust has a strong record of excellence in providing both primary and secondary education for city children and young people and is signed up to the council’s inclusion model to prevent exclusions.

The secondary school bid was submitted by the Archway Academy Trust (Bluecoat) which has also worked with the City Council to identify needs and site options to ensure best access for pupils across the city. Archway have a successful track record of providing good and outstanding secondary education in the city and a commitment to inclusive education.

The new schools will build on the City Council’s long-term school expansion strategy which has seen £42m of investment since 2009 to provide 5,000 additional primary places once all year groups are full by 2022. The council has worked hard to ensure the city continues to have the right number of places for the right number of children.

City Council Leader Cllr David Mellen said: “These successful bids for two new schools in Nottingham are excellent news – building on our own efforts to ensure we have enough school places to meet demand and that every child and young person has access to the very best facilities to help them reach their full potential.

“Proposals for a new school in Nottingham’s newest neighbourhood are very welcome. We have long wanted to develop the Waterside area into a new sustainable community linked to the city centre and adjoining neighbourhoods like Sneinton. In our planning blueprint along with other features, such as transport links and high quality homes, we included a school. These proposals deliver that and help to boost the viability of further development of the area.”

Portfolio Holder for Early Years, Education and Employment, Cllr Neghat Khan, said: “Greenwood Academy Trust have worked well with the council to develop their proposals, which will provide much-needed extra school places and a high-quality learning environment for local children.

“Archway Academy Trust have also worked well with us to develop their proposals for a much-needed new secondary school which will support growing demand.”

Nottingham now has more children attending a school that is judged ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted (86%) than the national average (85%) and the East Midlands average (80%).