The new primary school at Rochester Riverside has received planning approval for a two-form entry.

This will allow it to cater for 420 pupils with classes ranging from nursery to Year 6.

With construction expected to begin in the coming months, it is due to open in September 2022, when pupils of nursery and reception age will be admitted, with the school growing in size each year thereafter.

It will become part of the Pilgrim Multi-Academy Trust and will provide state-of-the-art classrooms and sports and play facilities.

The two-storey building will sit on a raised deck, which provides outdoor teaching space directly from the nursery and reception classrooms.

The grounds will contain a range of facilities that contribute to learning, health and wellbeing, including a grassed sports area with exercise trail, and a multi-use games area which could be configured for two netball courts, or one seven-a-side football pitch.

Sports facilities will be opened to the public.

The school will also have space for an outdoor stage for events, a nursery and reception play area, several plant beds and a habitat zone for teaching about local wildlife.

In the centre of this external area are the remains of Rochester’s historic city wall, which will act as a focal point for the school grounds.

It will be located in a new open space within the Rochester Riverside development, surrounded by three newly-created public parks - Acorn Park, Acorn Play Area and Bridge Park.

The £419 million regeneration project is being delivered by Countryside and Hyde over 12 years. A new community of up to 1,400 new homes is being created, along with the school, nursery, hotel, 2.5km river walkway, commercial units, parking, green open spaces, play areas and landscaping.

Countryside managing director Andrew Usher said: “With construction set to commence this spring, there is now real momentum behind the new primary school at our 1,400-home landmark development.”

Chief investment officer at Hyde Guy Slocombe added: “The past year has given us all a renewed appreciation of the importance of dedicated, high-quality learning facilities for children, and the new Rochester Riverside Primary School will be a shining example of these.

"We are not just building new homes at Rochester Riverside but creating a sustainable community for the long term, of which the primary school is a vital part.”

Jan Taylor, chief executive of The Pilgrim Multi Academy Trust, said: “This planning permission is an exciting milestone in delivering our vision of extending an outstanding educational experience to more children and their families in the Rochester area.

"As we live through this pandemic, it is so important to be able to focus on the positives and the school and nursery certainly provides this opportunity. The design is inspiring and we are looking forward to watching the progress of the build.

Medway Council leader Cllr Alan Jarrett said: “The new primary school is not only set to have excellent facilities onsite for children to learn from nursery age up until Year 6, but it will be surrounded by new public parks making it the ideal location for Medway’s young people to learn and flourish.”

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