The headteacher of a Teddington primary school in the middle of a controversial enlargement plan has described the scheme as an “exciting opportunity”.

John Logan, head at St Mary’s and St Peter’s CE Primary School, in Somerset Road, said he would not proceed with the scheme unless he believed it “would be in the interests of all the children, both in the school and the community”.

Last month, Richmond Council withdrew an application for additional buildings at St Mary’s and St Peter’s to enlarge it from two to three forms of entry by September 2011.

The plans had been condemned by the Football Association, Sport England, the London Playing Fields Foundation and Fields in Trust. The scheme also needed a relaxation from the Government as the school would have been left with about a quarter of the outdoor space needed.

Mr Logan said there had been dialogue with Sport England prior to the re-drawing of the plans and although he understood parents’ criticisms of the proposal he did not agree with them.

Some parents have expressed displeasure about the lack of open space in the new scheme and have claimed the site is not big enough to sustain a three-form entry school.

Mr Logan said: “This is a good design, with a good educational slant to it. Sometimes the educational side of it is being forgotten.

“I can understand concerns – any change causes concerns – but we have worked very hard to design a building and site that is practical, and we are working very hard to ensure construction does not disrupt the children’s learning.

“This year we have had 180 applications for 60 places. This is a church school and a community school, we have a duty to the community and the demand for places, particularly in Teddington, is very high.

“This is an exciting opportunity.”

Mr Logan pointed out the new plans included a garden for St Mary’s and St Peter’s pre-school, better playground equipment, a new hall, bigger kitchen and a more useful design for a modern school.

He said the plans would also allow the school to be used by the community outside school hours.

He added: “I think this will be so much more practical. This school was designed and built in the 1970s and bits have been bolted on. There is no coherence.

“The new design will make the experience for the children much better. We are cramped. This is my seventh year and the school has grown, we need bigger premises and better facilities for the children we have got.

“We are a popular school, Ofsted deemed us outstanding, with the provision we provide I see no reason why that can’t continue.”