Harry Potter studio to build real school for cast

A shot from one of the early Harry Potter films, showing Hermione Granger sitting by Harry Potter and Percy Weasley. Harry looks at the camera directly from side on while Percy speaks to them both, wearing a black cap. Hermione has a fringe and brown shoulder length hair, Harry has a short bowl hair cut and wears school uniform, as does Percy who has reddish wavy short hair.Image source, Warner Bros
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The temporary school will be built at the studio where the Harry Potter movies were shot

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The studio where the new Harry Potter television reboot is being filmed has been granted permission to build a temporary school for the child actors to study in for real.

It might not have the grandeur of Hogwarts, but Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, near Watford, has been told by Three Rivers District Council it could use a series of portable buildings as a school facility for the next decade.

The proposed classrooms have been designed to be used by up to 600 pupils during peak periods, when large crowd scenes are shot, but will typically serve about 150 students.

It will operate on weekdays between 05:30 and 20:30 so young actors can fit in their actual studies between night shoots, reshoots and location filming.

A young boy, Dominic McLaughlin, dressed as Harry Potter holding a clipboard which says "Harry Potter" on it.Image source, Aidan Monaghan/HBO
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Scottish actor Dominic McLaughlin will play Harry Potter in the new adaptation of the JK Rowling books

The application is partly retrospective, suggesting some aspects of the plans had already begun.

The school planning documents do not specifically mention Harry Potter but instead a "significant new TV series which will base itself at the studio for the next 8–10 years."

In the proposals, it was specified that the school infrastructure will be in place for a maximum period of 10 years.

It was announced on Monday that filming on the new series had begun in Leavesden.

According to HBO, 32,000 children auditioned for the lead roles following an open casting call in September.

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