Construction works have started on a new first school on the Bramshall Meadows estate on Ivinson Way in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire.
Midlands-based contractor G F Tomlinson is leading on the construction of the school, which will offer 150 school places for pupils aged four to nine years old, as well as nursery places.
A ground-breaking ceremony took place on site on 24th September to celebrate the start of works.
The £4.3 million scheme is being delivered through the Staffordshire County Council’s Capital Framework and has been designed and project managed by Entrust. The Uttoxeter Learning Trust, which will run the school, held a public consultation earlier this year with the local community.
The new, single storey 1 form entry (1FE) first school is being developed as part of a wider plan to expand first school provision in Uttoxeter in response to an increased demand for places generated from new housing in the local area.
The 12,000 sq. metre site will accommodate the first school and its external facilities and the school represents the first pupil places to be constructed in Uttoxeter in response to growth.
The school, which will be completed in the summer next year in time for the start of the new school academic year starting in September 2022, will comprise a nursery, classrooms, a multi-use hall, catering space, outdoor sports pitch and play areas and car parking.
This is one of two school projects that G F Tomlinson has recently started works on in the county – with a primary school in Lichfield also underway also to be delivered through the Staffordshire County Council Capital Framework.
Chris Flint, managing director at G F Tomlinson Building Limited, said: “The new first school will provide much-needed school places for children in the local area and help to meet the demand generated from the recently complete Bramshall Meadows housing development.
“As one of two schools projects we are currently working on with Staffordshire County Council, we are delighted to be delivering this new, high quality school building which will inspire pupils to achieve their academic potential and provide a solid building block for their journey through education. The school will also meet the growing needs of the local community and it is great to see work starting. We look forward to seeing steady construction progress on site in the coming months.”
Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education said: “It is essential that we plan ahead for future demand for school places. This new school will be latest in our school capital programme, which will ensure there are plenty of school places available for local children. We are also ensuring that this school will be able to cope with future demand, having designed it in such a way that it can be expanded to accommodate more children. It has been great to see work begin on site, and I look forward to seeing how the building progresses in the coming months.”
Sarah Clark, Chief Executive Officer, Uttoxeter Learning Trust, said: “It’s great to see the construction works getting underway for this exciting new first school that we are proud to support and which will benefit the local community.”
