STAFF and pupils at Halwill Primary School can now look forward to the prospect of work starting on the long-held dream of a new school to replace their current Victorian building. County councillors meeting on Monday (March 20) gave the go-ahead to the second and third year of the construction programme which will enable the start of work on a £2.2 million primary at a new site at Halwill Junction. The existing school building which was built in Victorian times is considered too old and small for modern teaching needs. Headteacher David Jones said everyone at the school was excited about the prospect of a new building, and was hopeful work could start soon. Councillors also approved the enlargement of the school from a capacity of 88 to 120 with effect from the start of the autumn term 2007. The council say the expansion reflects the ongoing housebuilding in the village. However, some concern had been expressed by neighbouring schools about the possible expansion of the school. Devon County Council received a letter from Highampton Community Primary School governors expressing concern about the expansion of the primary at Halwill. Their concern was that the authority was expanding Halwill while there were falling rolls and spare places in neighbouring schools. While the council acknowledged this may be the case, they said the current principle of local schools for local pupils suggested that the sustainability of each school should be based upon there being sufficient local pupils to support it. Mr Jones said he had been in discussions with both Highampton and Black Torrington Primary Schools to try to allay any concerns they might have. Devon County Council?s executive councillor for children?s services, John Smith, praised the countywide programme for major school investments. ?This is an excellent programme which will enable us to provide school buildings worthy of the 21st century for many hundreds of Devon children,? he said.
