Building a new primary school in the heart of Chard represents an “incredible opportunity” to provide children with the best start in life, according to Holyrood Academy’s headteacher, Dave MacCormick. The school is set to be part of the Chard eastern development area (CEDA), a project planned to include 2,700 new homes, 17 hectares of employment land, and two new primary schools.
Despite delays in housing developments, partly due to a phosphate crisis, the council announced in mid-September that it would locate one of the new primary schools adjacent to Holyrood Academy on Zembard Lane, close to the town centre. This announcement has sparked criticism from existing primary schools in Chard, who voiced concerns over the council’s perceived lack of consultation through an open letter.
MacCormick responded by emphasizing that Holyrood Academy does not intend to undermine current primary schools and views the new facility as a way to strengthen education across the town. He explained that Holyrood’s involvement began late in the planning process after discussions initiated by the council about the urgent need for additional primary places and available land.
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Chard is anticipating major growth, with nearly 1,000 new homes expected over the next decade, creating a demand for approximately 300 new primary school places by 2027. The headteachers of Avishayes, Manor Court, and Redstart primaries—along with colleagues from nearby Combe St. Nicholas and Tatworth—expressed disappointment regarding the consultation process, highlighting the importance of transparency and collaboration moving forward.
MacCormick acknowledged the concerns of his primary school colleagues and affirmed his commitment to partnership working to ensure the best educational outcomes for all children in Chard. Holyrood Academy, part of the Blackdown Education Partnership multi-academy trust, oversees other primary schools and plans for the new facility to accommodate 210 primary pupils and 40 nursery places.
Currently, three potential sites within Holyrood’s 43-acre grounds are under consideration, with factors like access and drainage influencing the choice. A final site decision will be made by the council and its contractor in early 2026, followed by a planning application. While the broader public may not be consulted on the site selection, there may be opportunities to comment on school admissions and construction impact.
The new primary school will fall within Redstart Primary School’s existing catchment, which could necessitate changes to catchment boundaries. MacCormick stressed the strong, positive relationships existing among Chard’s primary schools, emphasizing that the new school aims to address the demand for places rather than drawing students away from other schools. He suggested that the new school might operate without a fixed catchment area, using distance-based oversubscription criteria instead.
The council has allocated £7.75 million to the project, with nearly £1.9 million coming from local housing developers. The remaining funds will initially be covered by borrowing and recouped through future housing projects, including a development on Tatworth Road that will also bring an eastern relief road.
MacCormick expects the new primary school to open by September 2027, highlighting its potential to deepen community ties and benefit both pupils and families. The school hopes to enhance early engagement with families — from antenatal education through to nursery — supporting children’s successful educational journeys and fostering opportunities for older students to take on mentorship roles.
He summed up the initiative as both a privilege and a remarkable opportunity to work closely with families, ensuring children in Chard have a solid foundation for their academic and personal development.