Hampshire County Council in the UK has approved the plan for a new primary school in Hartland Village, Fleet.

The school is now scheduled to open in September 2027, revised from 2026 and will have an initial intake capacity of 30 students. It will eventually accommodate up to 420 pupils aged four to 11, with potential to include future developments.

The wider Hartland Village development is a significant residential project, set to provide 1,500 homes upon completion.

The school's opening aligns with the housing development's completion rates, ensuring a sufficient local pupil population.

This school will be fully funded by the UK's Department for Education once it opens.

The new school will comprise modern classrooms, a learning resource centre, and outdoor play areas, with a focus on sustainable design to reduce environmental impact.

The Circle Trust, a community of schools currently comprising two secondary and seven primary schools, has been appointed to run and manage the school.

Forecasts indicate that the area will have adequate secondary school capacity for many years, based on pupil projections and housing development rates.

The project is part of Hampshire County Council's £500m ($631.6m) capital programme for schools, launched last month, which aims to draw funding from external sources, including developer contributions and government funds.

Last month, the council approved a construction budget for a new school in Eastleigh. This school’s construction is expected to begin in early 2025, following expected formal planning approval this March.

Hampshire County Council executive member for education and councillor Steve Forster said: “We are thrilled to move forward with the development of a new primary school in Hartland Village. This project reflects our commitment to providing excellent educational opportunities for all children in Hampshire and keeping pace with areas of population growth.”

Circle Trust CEO Ginny Rhodes said: “As an educational charity, The Circle Trust has one core purpose and that is to promote education for the common good. We are delighted to be invited to run the new Hartland Village primary school. We see it as nothing but a privilege to work in such a special new community and with such an excellent local authority.”