Plans to create new classrooms at the island’s first parish primary schools have been submitted to the Department of Planning.

One planning application for Purvis Primary School proposed the addition of four new classrooms and two new washrooms, along with a covered walkway, a concrete ramp and exterior steps.

The application also included a new cesspit, a new guard wall and new planters.

The new classrooms would be built on the eastern side of the school’s main building, near the school’s auditorium and library.

A second planning application for the Lyceum Nursery School at Francis Patton Primary School called for the creation of two additional classrooms, two new washrooms and a new prep room, along with a covered walkway, new exterior steps and a new cesspit.

The extension would be built to the immediate east of the existing nursery school, with the covered walkway connecting it to the existing structure.

Purvis Primary School in Warwick and Francis Patton Primary School in Hamilton Parish are due to become the first two parish primary schools in September as part of government efforts to reform the island’s public education system.

The move to a parish primary school system will reduce the number of primary schools on the island to ten — one per parish except for Pembroke, which will have two.

The schools that were officially confirmed for closure are: St George's Preparatory School, St David's Primary School, Prospect Primary School, Northlands Primary School, Gilbert Institute, Heron Bay Primary School, Port Royal Primary School and West End Primary School.

A series of “engagement sessions” have been announced to discuss the changes with parents. However, some of the proposals have sparked criticism.

East End parents voiced frustration last week after they were told that primary students would go to school at the Whitney Institute in Smith’s for two years, while campaigners have called on the Government to abandon plans to close West End Primary School.