Coventry City Council eyes £8m school extension
A Coventry school could be set to expand by 150 pupils, after city council plans for a two-storey teaching block were submitted this week.
Designed by Northamptonshire-based practice GSSArchitecture in conjunction with the local authority, the 21,000 sq ft “Year 7 bridge” expansion would provide ten extra classrooms at Cardinal Wiseman Catholic School.
A library, changing facilities, arts and culture studios, and smaller breakout spaces are also included in the plans for the school, which serves around 1,400 pupils in the north east of Coventry. Changing facilities built as part of the scheme will also be used for community sports users outside of school hours.
The local authority has responded to what it says is “extraordinary demand” for school places by announcing the expansion of three secondary schools and the creation of around 200 specialist education places ahead of September 2027, when council figures show the largest primary cohort in the city is due to move into secondary education.
Dance studios and ten classrooms are included in the proposals for Cardinal Wiseman school. Credit: GSSArchitecture
President Kennedy and Westwood secondary schools will also be expanded as part of the £164m initiative, first announced in March.
GSSArchitecture has delivered a number of schemes for the city council already, including extension blocks for the nearby Pearl Hyde and John Shelton Community Primary School projects.
“The new classroom block creates a welcoming, engaging and inspiring environment that helps support the important transition from primary to secondary education,” said project partner, Tom Jagger.
“Through bright, modern learning spaces and a strong sense of identity and belonging, the building is intended to help students feel confident, comfortable and excited as they begin the next stage of their educational journey.”
The project team also includes Smith Jenkins Planning & Heritage, Currie and Brown, CPW, BWB and Cass Allen.
Plans and documents relating to the application can be found on Coventry City Council’s planning portal using reference: PL/2026/0000942/FULM
