Britain’s biggest primary school could be built right in the middle of Didsbury

Plans to build what could be Britain’s largest primary school have been revealed … and it’s going to be in the middle of Didsbury .

Education bosses want to double the size of Beaver Road Primary, in the heart of the leafy suburb, to increase to a five-form entry school with 1,050 pupils.

Under new proposals the ‘super primary’ would be split across the existing site on Beaver Road and a new one in a former university halls of residence on Wilmslow Road.

Senior teachers at the school – who are being backed by Manchester council – say the plan is a response to overwhelming demand for school places in Didsbury and south Manchester as a whole – with many parents already being forced to send their children miles every day.

Currently, the school has receives more than 340 applications for just 90 reception class places in recent years.

Teachers say that families looking for a place for their first child have ‘virtually no chance’ of getting in unless they live within half a mile away.

If plans are given the go-ahead, nursery and reception to Year 3 pupils will remain on the current Beaver Road Primary School site while years 4, 5 and 6 would transfer to the new site known as Beaver Road Junior School.

The former Manchester Metropolitan University halls of residence on Wilmslow Road

Overall school bosses want to expand each year group from 90 to 150, plus a separate nursery.

They hope to open the new building in September 2018.

Parents and residents are being encouraged to engage with a consultation on the proposals.

A statement on the school’s website said: “Manchester is the second fastest growing city in the country.

“Those of you who have lived in Didsbury for some time will know how much the community has changed.

“There are many more young families with children living and wanting to live, in the area.

“A very large housing development is being built on the former MMU site on Wilmslow Road.”

Councils do not receive funding from the Government to build new schools, which must either be now be launched as parent-backed Free Schools or as expanded versions of existing schools.

The school, ran by Beaver Road Academy Trust, will host a consultation meeting from 7pm until 8pm on Wednesday, October 19.

The consultations period ends in four weeks on November 11.