An extension of a primary school in East Ayrshire is being undertaken in order to meet growing demand for places.

Dunlop Primary will now be reconfigured and extended due to a projected increase in the school’s roll and nursery class intake.

The working capacity of the school was 133 for session 2011/12. This number is expected to rise to 172 over the next five years.

For session 2012/13, the current accommodation was sufficient as only 16 children started in primary 1.

But it is predicted that 32 children will enrol in primary 1 for academic session 2013/14 and additional accommodation will be required.

The building will need to be increased by one teaching space for August 2013 and 2 teaching spaces by August 2014.

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Three options were considered.

Option was to simply transfer some children to another school, while option two was to build two modular teaching spaces in the playground.

The preferred option was number three – to reconfigure and extend the existing building.

Plans were developed in partnership with the parent council sub-group and will be further developed by the Council, following more detailed feasibility studies.

The proposed reconfiguration and extension is estimated to have a project cost of £500,000.

This would be allocated as £110,000 for phase 1, from in-year underspend, and £390,000 for phase 2.

Spokesperson for Lifelong Learning Councillor Iain Linton said: "Dunlop is a popular residential area with an excellent primary school and nursery class – and we are responding promptly to demand.

"It is planned to reorganise the dining room and library accommodation to teaching spaces and create additional space with extensions to the building.

"This would be a two-stage operation, with a single room extension being constructed during summer 2013 and a further extension in summer 2014, to create the two required additional rooms."

(IT)