Leicester councillors are being asked to back proposals for the part, or total rebuilding of Rushey Mead's Mellor Primary School.

The council's Cabinet is to be presented with three options for the school, which include rebuilding the infant block, rebuilding both the infant and junior buildings, or rebuilding and extending the school to offer a further 200 places.

In all three options the new building would link to the new children's centre on the school site.

The three options cost £3.3 million, £6.6 million, and £8.6 million.


The council has already announced a programme of work to transform 50% of the city's primary schools under the city's primary capital programme.

Mellor Primary School was not previously identified as a priority for the first phase of the programme. However, a structural survey of the school has revealed that the infant building is in need of replacement and has a life expectancy of only three years.

Council Leader Ross Willmott said: "We are planning to invest more than £150 million in the city’s primary schools over the next 14 years.

"We had already agreed we would bring forward any work that became urgent, and we have options prepared which mean we can move forward quickly to meet the needs at Mellor."

If councillors agree to bring Mellor Primary School into the current programme, work could begin in Spring 2010, and would be completed for Summer 2011.

The Cabinet will make a decision at its meeting on 5 October, at Leicester Town Hall.

(CD/GK)