Children joining the new Chatteris primary school at Cromwell Community College will be taught in mobile classrooms until the project is completed.
Delays with building the facilities means the initial intake of reception class children are expected to need the temporary facilities until January 2021.
Cambridgeshire County Council has submitted a retrospective planning application for the mobile classroom, which includes two main classrooms, boys’ and girls’ toilets, and entrance lobby and two store cupboards.
The application’s Planning Statement said: “Without this additional classroom provision there will not be sufficient space to accommodate pupils forecast to start the upcoming academic year.”
A Cambridgeshire County Council spokeswoman said around 30 children are expected in the Reception class in September.
The Planning Statement explains: “A new primary school is planned to be built on the site of the existing Cromwell Community College which was originally due to be completed in September 2020.
“Due to there being a delay in the project programme, the new primary school will not be complete for this date, but it is anticipated that the permanent school will be complete for January 2021.”
The spokeswoman explained the move will not delay other aspects of the project and works have been “re-sequenced” to “accommodate the additional costs”.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, she added social distancing measures are being considered.
The planning application for the main scheme was determined in September 2019 and the construction programme was around one year and 10 months.
“We were able to re-programme the work but were aware that this meant a delayed completion date for the permanent accommodation being provided for children of primary school-age,” the spokeswoman added.
When complete, Cromwell Community College will be the first state-funded school in Cambridgeshire to offer all-through education from four to 18-year-olds.
The scheme will begin with the intake of the Reception class and grow year on year until it reaches capacity.
The first phase will create 210 primary school places, and an additional 210 pupils will join in the second phase of its expansion.
Pupils will learn in new classrooms, and access the college’s facilities which include a food technology block, design technology resources and sports amenities.
Jane Horn, Principal of Cromwell Community College, said: “The new primary and pre-school provision at Cromwell Community College will be a great asset to the college and its community.
“We have been delighted with the response to the provision and can’t wait to welcome our first pupils. It has been a consideration that the first cohort would have to initially use mobile classroom facilities for a while and something that we have communicated with parents and the college’s community.
“This mobile classroom is a fabulous facility in itself and will be an ideal provision for teaching until we can fully open the new primary provision.”
She added: “As with all schools across the UK we now have to work within social distancing guidelines when planning our education provision and this will carefully be taken into consideration with the mobile classroom facility and, once confirmed, will be communicated in full to parents and the college community.”
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