AMBITIOUS plans have been unveiled for a city centre primary school on the grounds of Chester Cathedral.
The city’s first ever ‘free school’ would be based in one of the historic buildings in Abbey Square and could be open by September 2013.
The University Cathedral School – run by the University of Chester Academies Trust (UCAT) in partnership with Chester Cathedral – would cater for 180 pupils and create up to 30 jobs.
The option of using the cathedral’s popular refectory as the school hall is currently being explored, while the Dean’s Field could be turned into a playing area.
Dr Colin Hankinson, UCAT chief executive officer, said: “I’ve no doubt it will be a monumental success. It will be a very beautiful school, open to one and all. It’s a unique opportunity.”
Former teacher Peter Howell-Jones, vice dean of Chester Cathedral, added: “We’re exceptionally excited. The potential is phenomenal.”
UCAT will submit its free school funding application – which it says is supported by more than 100 parents – to the Government next month.
If it passes that stage UCAT will then be invited to present its plans to the Department for Education, which would rule on whether to support the proposal or not. A decision would be expected in the summer.
If they give it the go-ahead, a planning application will then be submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council to turn the building into a school.
Free schools are state-funded and can be set up and run by education experts, trusts, charities, parents or community groups, with the aim of addressing a specific need.
The University Cathedral School would specialise in all forms of music and singing. According to UCAT there is no primary school of this type in Chester.
Dr Colin Hankinson accepted concerns would be raised over potential traffic congestion caused by a city centre school, but says plans were in place to address those issues as they have ‘no intention of cluttering the city centre’.
He confirmed negotiations were ongoing with the cathedral about using the car park at the back of the proposed school building – which can be accessed from Northgate Street – as a drop-off and collection point.
Times for bringing children to and from school would also be staggered to control congestion, and the option of utilising a park-and-ride system is being explored.
Consultation meetings with the public will be organised in the near future.
“We’re very much aware of the disruption potential,” said Dr Hankinson.
“We are doing everything we can to minimise it.”
Mr Howell-Jones said the project would lead the way in revitalising the area with the proposed school due to open before the new theatre at the nearby former Odeon building.
“We’ll be the pacesetters for this quarter of the city,” he said.
The proposed school building, which was built by Chester Cathedral in 1754, has been unoccupied since about 2000. It had been used as a retreat for nuns for more than 50 years.
