The school dates back 140 years but is a little on the small side
The damage caused by vandals at Arnot St. Mary Primary School, Walton pictured onlooking Assistant Headteacher Sean Fitzsimmons. Photo by Colin Lane(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
A “decidedly cramped” Grade II listed Liverpool school has unveiled plans to expand almost a year after being targeted by “opportunist” vandals. Arnot St Mary Primary School has stood on Arnot Street for around 140 years, when the area around it was known as Walton-on-the-Hill.
With 430 pupils on roll from nursery to Year 6, the school is a larger than average primary serving one of the most deprived communities in the city. It also provides an early years centre for children between two and four.
Now the school is seeking to make a series of changes and improvements within its two-storey Victorian structure. It has submitted plans for demolition works to allow for the early years centre to provide for children under two.
In October last year, weeks after County Road in Walton was rocked by scenes of wanton vandalism amid riots that swept the country, staff at nearby Arnot St Mary were forced to rethink their plans after major damage was done to the building.
With work going on to repair the leaking roof on site, vandals targeted another area of the school which caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the nursery ahead of the new academic year. Those responsible used dinner knives to smash up slate to remove lead.
Liverpool Council stumped up the cash to repair the damaged area, thought to be in the region of around £10,000. Heading into the summer, the school is now seeking local authority approval to make further improvements.
Damage caused at Arnot St Mary School(Image: Copyright Unknown)
A design and access statement submitted to planning officials set out the spacial issues associated with such a historic building. The document said: “While the school are very proud of their unique accommodation and the home it offers them, the internal layout of the building, even following refurbishment, is characterised by unitary classrooms which are modestly proportioned at best – and decidedly cramped at worst.
“The building currently lacks the capacity required for implementing 21st-century approaches to teaching and learning through flexible multi-purpose spaces.” Officials are seeking to expand their offering within the early years centre to accept babies and children younger than two.
Arnot St Mary School
The report added: “This involves rearranging the ground floor accommodation and a small portion of the first floor accommodation. The ground floor works will bring the plan layout more in line with the original building plan from the 20th century.
“Removal of modern partition walls, ceilings, fixtures and fittings will simplify the plan layout and provide a more flexible space for the desired use. On the first floor a new reception area will be provided for the separately run children’s centre.
“This involves repositioning the accessible toilet and removal of some internal partition walls. ceilings and floor finishes in this area will be replaced to match.”