An academic trust has been selected to run a new, £8m primary school being built in a rapidly growing Leicestershire town.
OWLS (Oadby, Wigston and Leicestershire Schools) Academy Trust will run the 210-pupil school – Hollycroft Primary – which is currently under construction off Normandy Way in Hinckley, next to Bloor Homes’ new Hollycroft Grange housing estate.
Most of the school’s cost has been met by developer Bloor Homes as part of Section 106 planning obligations arising from the new housing development.
The school is being built to Leicestershire County Council’s specifications, with seven classrooms and a specialist teaching room for practical subjects such as cookery, as well as a hall, library, garden and wildlife area.
In line with the county council’s green agenda, the state-of-the-art school will also feature solar panels and air source heat pumps. Once complete, ownership of the school will be transferred to the council.
OWLS have invited children from other schools in the trust to design Hollycroft Primary’s new logo.
Councillor Deborah Taylor, cabinet member for children and families, said: “With the population of Hinckley and our wider county continuing to expand, providing new schools in key locations is a top priority for us as we strive to meet the anticipated rise in demand for school places.
“Helping to build a cohesive community, providing an inclusive learning environment, and a desire to drive performance and standards of excellence were among the factors we prioritised when recommending a sponsor, and we are delighted that OWLS Academy Trust has been successful in securing sponsorship of the school.
“The Trust currently runs seven primary schools and has a great track record of raising educational standards elsewhere in the county, which we are confident it will continue to do in Hinckley.
“Hollycroft Primary will be modern and environmentally friendly, and I look forward to seeing the site take shape over the coming months.”
Peter Merry, CEO of OWLS Academy Trust, said: “We feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to open a new primary school in Hinckley.”
Jonathan Tedds, Chair of Trustees, added: “We are pleased to have the chance to bring our proven experience and expertise to this exciting project. We want to build the school with the right educational foundations and develop it with the new community of Hollycroft Grange and Hinckley as it grows.”
The school is expected to open its doors in September 2023, in time for the new academic year.