Building delays mean a new school in South Croydon will be based temporary buildings for a year longer than expected.

Coombe Wood School, which opened in September 2018, currently has 180 year seven pupils and this September a second batch of year seven pupils are set to join.

It was hoped that pupils would be able to “decant” into the sports hall of the new school building.

But last week the school in Melville avenue was granted planning permission for additional temporary buildings to house the growing school.

The plans are for a three storey temporary building on the site.

Some residents have raised safety concerns about pupils walking to the school from Lloyd Park tram stop.

However as part of the original temporary permission, there is a one way system which prevents cars turning into Melville avenue from Coombe Road.

As well as a zebra crossing for pupils to access the school safely.

At a meeting of Croydon Council’s planning committee last week, Jonathan Wilden, CEO of the Folio Trust which runs the school, said it wants to get a toucan crossing installed before the permanent school is completed.

He said: “Coombe Wood School continues to provide for the urgent need for additional places in Croydon.

“Unfortunately due to the complex nature of the permanent school there were delays to the start on site therefore the school is required to provide temporary accommodation for an additional year until September 2020.

“The school’s primary concern is always the safety and welfare of its pupils

“The original temporary permission provided a one way system on Melville Avenue and a raised crossing by the schools entrance – this will be retained and will continue to provide a safe crossing point for pupils.

“As part of the permanent school permission there is the requirement of a toucan crossing but this is not essential for the temporary application which is acknowledged by Croydon Highways and TfL.”

He added that he hopes the new crossing could be in place by September 20.

But Councillor Maria Gatland, representing the South Croydon ward, said:  “I think it is unfortunate that there was a delay somewhere in the system and that 360 pupils cannot be decanted into the school this September.

“I think this will present challenges in terms of pupil safety and will impact the residents particularly around drop-off and pick up times.

“I think it is fair to say that the school has had some problems sticking to their travel plan because of lack of staff, I don’t think that will be the problem going forward.”

Coombe Wood is an academy run by the Folio Education Trust, which also runs Park Hill Junior School, St Peter’s Primary School and Wallington County Grammar School.

The school for children aged between 11 and 18, has a specialism of sport and performing and creative arts.

The permanent building was granted planning permission in January and construction is already underway.

The main building, as well as a range of facilities including a competition venue-sized sports hall, a full size 3G artificial floodlit surface and a specialist area for performing arts, will be built in time for September 2020.

Councillors on the committee, including Gareth Streeter, Jason Perry and Joy Prince raised concerns with the safety of children coming to and from school.

But Councillor Paul Scott: “It would be great if the toucan crossing could be delivered after the summer holidays but it would be unreasonable to condition that.

“If there is a hold up from one of the third parties and if unavoidably the work wasn’t finished it would be totally unreasonable to turn around and say to the 180 kids in their new uniform, sorry you can’t go to school because the road works aren’t done.”

Despite the concerns the temporary buildings were approved unanimously by the committee.