Dyson-funded £6m school expansion plans submitted

A new science, technology, engineering, art and maths centre could be built at Malmesbury Primary School

Plans for a £6m school expansion funded by entrepreneur James Dyson have been submitted.

Under the proposals, a science, technology, engineering, art and maths centre will be built at Wiltshire's Malmesbury Primary School - increasing capacity from 420 to 630 pupils.

The science centre will be created inside the existing school building, and leaders have said it will cater for a predicted influx of children from a new housing development.

Wiltshire councillor Jon Hubbard said: "We are committed to working closely with everyone involved to ensure the best possible outcomes for all our pupils."

He added: "As this is a planning application which is currently under consultation, it would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time."

A Department for Education spokesperson previously said they were happy with the arrangement, so long as the school shared the new science facilities with neighbouring schools.

James Dyson previously described his mission to donate to the school as a "battle"

A planning decision is expected early in the new year, and the new facilities could be ready for pupils by September 2027, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The £6 million donation, first announced in 2023, will be made through the charitable arm of Dyson, which it said had been created to inspire the next generation of engineers.

Around a quarter of pupils at Malmesbury Primary School have a parent employed by Dyson, which has its global headquarters nearby.

School leaders have said the expansion is required to accommodate a predicted influx of children from the new 170-homes development at Backbridge Farm.

Previously, plans for the centre were uncertain after Wiltshire Council said an expansion at one school could affect the future of other nearby primaries.

Sir James Dyson then wrote to The Times newspaper, describing trying to donate the money as a "battle".