An entirely new secondary school will be built in Cheshunt, if plans are approved by Broxbourne Council.
Goffs School is set to be completely rebuilt on a site lying just yards away from the current school buildings.
The school in Goffs Lane, first built in 1964, is among the first in the country to share in a £2.4bn Government scheme to rebuild the schools most in need.
The number of students has more than doubled in the past 50 years and the developers say some of the current buildings were poorly designed, constructed and maintained, and contain asbestos.
A complete rebuild is needed as a refurbishment would not be practical.
It also offers the chance to significantly reduce maintenance costs and carbon emissions.
The plans involve building a new school within the boundaries of the current school, to the west of the current buildings which will be demolished
All of the facilities would be accommodated in one building, reducing the school’s “footprint” by one third, thereby increasing the amount of green space.
The plans also include two extra multi-use games areas in addition to retaining the four existing areas and the all-weather playing surface, habitat areas and gardens, and an art display walk.
The main building will incorporate a sports hall and activity studio, which will be available for use by the wider community outside of school hours.
There will also be 154 parking spaces, and storage for 80 bikes.
The official capacity will be for 1,350 students, which is 168 less than currently, but 58 more than are on register this year.
During the works, it is planned for construction traffic to use Goffs Lane and for workers to access the site via Dark Lane.
Lessons will continue in the current buildings, although three existing mobile classrooms would have to be moved.
The Government plans to complete the first round of its schools rebuilding project by 2017.
Schools minister David Laws said: “The priority school building programme is making great strides in ensuring that vital building work takes place at some of the schools in the worst state across the country.
“The government is determined to raise the standard of schools and the education they provide as part of its long term plan.
Hertfordshire Mercury
