Vulnerable students across Oswestry are to be taught in a new, purpose-built centre in the town under new proposals welcomed by the county councillor with responsibility for children’s services.
The 21st Century education centre for teenagers who would normally fall out of mainstream education, is being proposed for a site alongside the Walford and North Shropshire College on College Road.
The building will be used to accommodate up to 18 pupils and six permanent members of staff. It will replace the ageing accommodation currently housing the nationally acclaimed centre.
Today the new plans were welcomed by Councillor Ann Hartley who said Shropshire’s pupil referral unit, recognised as the best in the country, deserved new accommodation in Oswestry.
The new building would include three general classrooms, specialist teaching rooms for art and science, a food technology area, meeting room, an office, staffroom and other facilities.
The Oswestry centre is one of six in Shropshire that cater for pupils who at risk of exclusion or who are sick or without school places.
Oswestry’s existing centre is located within the Kings-well Community Centre on Arthur street, which Councillor Hartley said was an ageing building with poor access and limited resources.
“The staff and the pupils are fantastic, working in difficult conditions and really do deserve better accommodation,” she said.
A planning application for the centre says: “The new build programme will enable the local authority to provide purpose built accommodation meeting the needs of a very vulnerable group of pupils who require additional help and support to develop their skills as successful learners.”
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