Council’s major investment in borough schools continues

Telford & Wrekin Council is excited to reveal the completed expansion to Lawley Academy, increasing available school places to benefit local families. In partnership with the REAch2 Academy Trust, the expansion has created capacity for an additional 210 primary school places and 30 nursery places from the 2024/25 academic year.

Published on: 4 October 2024
Cllr Shirley Reynolds joins children, staff and Telford & Wrekin Council colleagues at Lawley Academy extension

The expansion is a strategic response to the growing demand for high-quality educational facilities in the area. By increasing its capacity, Lawley Academy aims to continue its mission of providing exceptional education and nurturing environments for more children in the community.

Cllr Shirley Reynolds, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People, Education, Employment and Skills (Lab) said: "In recent years, our council has been investing heavily in schools across the borough, expanding schools’ capacity by hundreds of places.

“As more people are choosing Telford and Wrekin as a place to live and raise a family, we are firmly committed to continue this investment. We want to create hundreds more school places to ensure every local child and young person can attend a local school and benefit from modern facilities.

“We are thrilled that Lawley Academy will be able to offer more places to local children. As one of our largest new build estates, the expansion will not only enable Lawley Academy to accommodate more students but also further support the development of the young minds in Telford."

Claire Freestone, Headteacher at Lawley Village Academy, said: “We are really pleased with how the expansion has come together.

“It’s an exciting opportunity for us to support more children in their local community to thrive, learn and grow in a modern learning environment.”

Cathie Paine, CEO of REAch2 Academy Trust, said: "Our commitment to providing great schools for local communities is reflected in the expansion of Lawley Village Academy. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have by giving more families the opportunity for their children to benefit from attending the school.” 

This work is part of Telford & Wrekin Council’s ‘20 pledges in 20 weeks’ campaign which will see the local authority deliver 20 actions on the things that matter most to local people during the first 20 weeks following Cllr Lee’s Carter’s appointment as Leader on 18 July. The pledges reinforce the council’s ongoing commitment to protect, care and invest to create a better borough. 

Further expansion and refurbishment works are planned at other school sites across Telford and Wrekin in the coming months.

You can track the council’s progress on its 20 pledges at www.telford.gov.uk/20pledges