A £16,000 a year boarding school in High Wycombe has said it plans to improve ‘safeguarding’ by changing its entrance.

The Royal Grammar School, which was founded in 1562, wants to install a 1.8m high pedestrian gate and lay a tarmac access footpath next to its main vehicle entrance.

The selective state-funded boys’ secondary school and sixth form said its new gate will be 1.5m wide and inserted into a section of fence beside the main vehicle gates.

In a statement, it said: “The school wish to improve the safeguarding of their students by bringing the pedestrian access gate closer to the main vehicle entrance, where there is better visual connection to the main school reception in the former school house.

“The existing gate will be locked shut or replaced by a matching fence panel.”

The new tarmac footpath to the fence line will be around 1.8m wide and 12m long, the Royal Grammar School said in its planning application to Buckinghamshire Council.

Its plans concluded: “It is hoped that this statement demonstrates that the addition of the gate and footpath will have minimal impact on the site and adjacent areas and will assist the school in maintaining high safeguarding standards.”

Being state-funded, the school, which has a roll of 1,400 pupils, does not charge tuition fees, but charges £16,800 a year for weekly boarding or £18,935 for full boarding.