Permission sought for temporary mobile classrooms at two new primary schools being built in North East Lincolnshire is a 'just in case' measure to ensure they open in September.
Two new primaries are being built, at Scartho Top, off Matthew Telford Park, and Waltham, off Sunningdale. These will become Scartho Gateway Academy and Waltham Gateway Academy, run by Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust.
Together the schools will provide over 400 additional school places. They have been scheduled to open for the 2025/26 academic year.
Planning applications have been made in recent days by North East Lincolnshire Council for temporary self-contained, relocatable mobile units on both sites, with capacity for up to 75 Key Stage 1 and 2 children and five staff. The units would include three classrooms and other facilities.
The council and academy trust have, however, made clear this is effectively an insurance policy against construction delays required by the Department for Education.
In a joint statement, North East Lincolnshire Council and Lincolnshire Gateway Academies Trust (LGAT) state: "We’re really excited to see the progress of construction work to the two new primary schools in Scartho and Waltham.
"Scartho Gateway Academy and Waltham Gateway Academy will open in September on each of their sites, providing much-needed additional primary places and rich, varied curriculums.
"It has always been the intention to have contingency plans in place to protect against unforeseen issues that can crop-up during major building projects. Indeed, such plans are a prerequisite for Department for Education funding.
"This is why we are seeking planning permission for mobile classrooms at both sites. They will act as an insurance against any issues.
"In the meantime, we will continue to monitor the progress at both sites and look forward to welcoming children and parents in September."
The schools' two new principals - Lindsay Holness at Waltham Gateway Academy and Melanie Portlock at Scartho Gateway Academy - will take up their posts full time after the Easter break, in preparation for the new school year.
Both schools will have 210-pupil places, including specialist provision for 12 students with special educational needs and disabilities. The primaries were originally slated by the council to open last year, but were pushed back to September 2025, as planning officials considered residents' feedback.
If the temporary classrooms do have to be put in place, Waltham's will be to the west of the permanent school building. Scartho's would be to the immediate south of its permanent structure.
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