Council agrees to spend £2m on two school buildings

Wilby Church of England Primary School currently has about 90 pupils

A council has agreed to spend more than £2m on two school buildings, which include the controversial relocation of a village primary school to a large housing estate.

At a meeting earlier, North Northamptonshire Council's executive committee signed off investing almost £1.3m moving Wilby Primary School to Glenvale Park on the edge of Wellingborough.

Some parents campaigned against the plans last year, saying they wanted their children to stay in a small village school.

The council also agreed to spend £749,000 on refurbishing Alfred Lord Tennyson Primary in Rushden.

It will mark the final phase of adaptations following the amalgamation of Tennyson Road Infant and Alfred Street Junior Schools on their existing sites.

The council said the school would be "reconfigured" to provide adequately sized classrooms, a break-out groups space, a play area for Reception and Year 1-6 classes and suitable toilet provision.

The project is expected to be finished by August 2025.

A new school has been built on the Glenvale Park development

Last year, more than 300 people signed an online petition against plans to relocate Wilby Primary School.

Parents said they were concerned their local community would be negatively affected by the move.

The school's chair of governors said a new building would be better for the children.

Additional investment was needed to install internal and external furniture, fittings and equipment to get the school ready for September.

Scott Edwards, a Conservative councillor and the council's executive member for children, families, education and skills, said: "These funding allocations will make sure that responsible bodies can start to plan ahead and get projects started to do the necessary works, so pupils and teachers can learn and work in a comfortable space."