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King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon has applied to build a three-storey block with six classrooms and a new sixth form centre, including a roof terrace, at the rear of its Chapel Lane site. It’s a bigger version of a two-storey classroom block the council approved on 21 July, and the new application (26/02506/FUL) is open for comments now.
What’s planned
- Ground floor: two larger science classrooms.
- First floor: four general classrooms of 55 square metres each.
- Second floor: the sixth form centre, with a 190 square metre common room, a seminar room and two offices.
- Above that: a roof terrace.
A bridge would link the block to the Spencer Building, finished in 2017, and share its lift and stairs. The materials are red brick, terracotta and metal, chosen to echo the Spencer Building and the nearby RSC theatre.
Why the school wants it
The school’s design statement says the Department for Education has identified a shortage of classrooms for its current pupils, and has approved a new form of entry to bring boys’ places into line with Stratford Girls’ Grammar School. KES had 881 pupils in 2025/26, including about 90 in each of Years 7 to 11.
A transport note written in June for the earlier scheme, and filed with this application, says the building would allow 150 more pupils and five more teachers by 2032/33, with no change to the sixth form’s capacity. That fits the plan we reported last week to grow KES from 87 to 116 Year 7 places from September 2028. Views on that admissions plan are being taken separately, until midday on Friday 27 November.
Traffic and heritage
In June the county council’s highways team lodged a holding objection to the two-storey scheme, saying the school hadn’t shown how many extra pupils and car trips it would bring. The school’s reply forecast about 25 more cars in the morning peak, and said staff would keep supervising drop-offs at its Avon Paddocks and Church Street entrances. Pupils’ buses have stopped at the Leisure Centre rather than in the town centre since 2025. No extra parking is proposed. The two-storey plan went on to get permission with conditions.
The school, where Shakespeare is thought to have been taught, sits in the conservation area among some of the town’s oldest buildings, including the Grade I listed Guildhall and Guild Chapel. Its heritage statement says the block would be hidden from Church Street and other public viewpoints, and would do no harm to their setting.
How to comment
When we checked on 3 November, no consultee replies or public comments were on the file. The site notice runs until 18 November and the newspaper advert until 26 November, and the council’s target date for a decision is 21 December. You can read the plans and comment on the application page. Other plans near you are on our Planning near me map.
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Alex Harrington
Alex Harrington grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and runs What's up, Stratford? as an independent guide to the town.
