Derby: Rebuild of city primary school given green light

Pear Tree Street Infant School will be rebuilt on the same site

A Derby primary school is to be rebuilt after it secured government funding.

The 270-pupil Pear Tree Infant School will be demolished and replaced in a planed merger with Walbrook Nursery School.

Derby City Council said the schools, which share a headteacher and governors, asked to be merged into one building.

The Department for Education (DfE) said it had agreed to fund the rebuild on the school's Pear Tree Street site.

The council said it hoped the new school would be ready to welcome pupils in January 2026.

There are currently 48 pupils at Walbrook Nursery School

Pear Tree pupils will be taught in temporary classrooms within the school grounds as it is rebuilt.

A council spokeswoman said: "It will provide modern, high-quality nursery accommodation, and out-door play space, designed specifically to meet the needs of the nursery children at the school and modern curriculum requirements.

"It is anticipated that combining the two school will mean children will benefit from the potential of a wider range of resources and improved staff development, as well as a smoother transition from nursery to infant school."

The council's cabinet will discuss the scheme when it meets on Wednesday 6 December and is set to approve the start of the formal process of merging the schools.

A final decision will be taken on the merger in March, the council said.

Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail].