ST JOHN’S in Marlborough is preparing to submit a planning application that will expand sports provision for the school’s 1700+ students and ensure that local community groups have access to a wider range of facilities.

The area outside the main entrance to St John’s has been earmarked for development for many years, but a lack of funds meant the area was mothballed.

Now, thanks to funding secured from builders Redrow, as part of the planning conditions for the Marleburg Grange development in Marlborough, St John’s now has funding to provide improved sports facilities.

A planning application is being prepared to develop a second sports hall and changing rooms, two all-weather games courts, and additional landscaped recreation space for students.

Ian Tucker, Principal at St John’s Marlborough said:

“We have been working hard over the last few months to ensure that our plans make the most effective use of the available funding, to benefit all our students, and also the wider community.

We believe that we have planned a range of facilities that will significantly enhance the provision we offer our students, in a way that remains sympathetic to the landscape and the existing buildings. It is an exciting time for St John’s and I am proud to be heading up this project. After a difficult few months for all of us, this is something we can really look forward to.

"We are delighted that this development will also create an opportunity to further strengthen our links with the wider community by making these facilities available to local clubs and organisations”.

St John’s has launched a public consultation. Anyone can give their views on the plans through the ConsultingYou portal https://consultingyou.co.uk/st-johns-school/login/comment or by email to jenny@jennygee.co.uk The deadline for comments is the end of November 2020.

Until December 2009 St John’s Marlborough was based on two 1960s sites in the town with half the students being taught in ageing “temporary” classrooms, some of which had been in place for

over 30 years. Following a decision by the governing body to build a new school, the development was funded by the school by selling land for development and by fundraising, and the new St John’s opened in December 2009.

Details of the plans are available at: https://consultingyou.co.uk/st-johns-school