The ceremony, on Thursday, 11 November, was attended by Cllr Philip Robinson, Cabinet member for Economy, Education and Skills at Gloucestershire County Council, Cllr Emma Nelson, representatives of Warden Hill Primary School and the Gloucestershire County Council framework contractors, E G Carter & Co Ltd who are delivering the new school.
The two-form entry school will remain at its current capacity of 420 places and will have state of the art facilities for teaching and learning. This project is part of the Council’s pledge to invest £100m in schools across Gloucestershire.
Warden Hill Primary is rated as an ‘outstanding’ school by Ofsted, however, the existing poor-quality buildings are in need of extensive renovation. Detailed investigations into the existing site and buildings showed it would be a more efficient use of resources to replace the existing infant and junior buildings with a brand new energy efficient one.
Cllr Robinson said: “This project is all about giving pupils and teachers in our county the excellent learning environment they deserve.
“The current school needs substantial improvement and Gloucestershire County Council’s £7.5 million investment will ensure that happens.”
The work will provide the school with a sustainable building, in line with the council’s commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Cllr Emma Nelson, local member for Warden Hill at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “The new and improved school facilities are excellent news for the local community. “I am looking forward to the completion of this project, and Warden Hill Primary School being able to welcome its pupils into far superior facilities.”
Construction work on site is being led by family-run Gloucester firm E G Carter & Co Ltd. The new building is due to be completed in the autumn of 2022, with the demolition works of the old school building being completed by Spring 2023. Initial funding of £6.5 million to build the new school building was agreed in 2020, with an additional £1 million approved by Gloucestershire County Council on Thursday, 11 November.
Thomas Jones, Associate Director at E G Carter & Co Ltd, said: “We are delighted to be constructing yet another school in Gloucestershire.
“Working in partnership with Gloucestershire County Council and our design team Roberts Limbrick, Simpson Associates, Smith Consult and Pegasus will help ensure that the design, construction and delivery will be to the highest standard. “We are looking forward to the new school developing its identity in the months to come”