PRESSURES on St Clere's School in Stanford-le-Hope to increase its intake of pupils to meet the rising demand for school places across Thurrock means that a Portakabin destined for removal is set to have its life extended by three years.

Having expressed its intention to do away with all 'temporary' building a couple of years ago bu building a new teaching block, St Clere's has had to retain them to bail out Thurrock Council by creating a new bulge cohort of students in the new building.

Initially that cohort was supposed to encompass just one year group, which would go through the five year cycle of school life then disappear but the numbers in other year groups has continued to rise.

To meet the increased demand for accomodation, St Clere's is applying to the council for permission to extend the life of one of its Portakabins.

A statement to the council says: "This application is for the retention of a single storey Portakabin classroom building installed in 2016 due to an expected increase in number of pupils at the start of the new academic year.

Over the past few years St Clere's school has seen a significant increase in the number of pupils which has forced them to reorganise the use of existing rooms to accommodate them.

"In 2018 they agreed to take a bulge year cohort adding an extra 85% onto their year group and have had smaller but significant intake growth since then.

"Their expansion plans approved by the council in 2019 included a ten-classroom block and sports hall but this has reduced other available teaching areas in the school.

"To this end they will need to retain this extra teaching space until the group leaves.

"The long term plan to alleviate the need to have the temporary classroom includes the development of the sixth form area from an existing sports facility and the large cohort leaving the school.

"This application seeks temporary planning approval of three years."

The full application and the opportunity to comment can be found via this link