Staff and students at a Kingswood primary school are benefiting from a new state-of-the-art extension and remodelling work, creating almost 300 new pupil places to meet increased demand in the local area.
Kingswood Parks Primary School is located on the Kingswood residential development in North Hull, originally educating more than 350 pupils aged three to 11.
Due to an increase in housing in the area, there is a need to expand capacity to 630 pupils, and it currently has more than 500 pupils on site.
Work is now complete and pupils and staff will be able to start fully utilising the new space with immediate effect.
An event to mark the completion milestone will be held at the school for invited guests and will be declared officially open by Hull North MP Diana Johnson on Friday, November 23rd.
Helen Miller, Principal at the school, said: “The staff are thoroughly enjoying working and learning in our new extended school.
“The extension and adaptations made to the existing building mean not only do we have a bigger school, but a much more exciting learning environment in which the children have the opportunity to pursue variety of interests.
“The dance studio, spaces for music and new multi-use games area (MUGA) for outdoor sports are particularly popular with the children.”
Sewell Construction built the original school, which opened in 2014, and worked with partners Hull Esteem Consortium and Hull City Council to develop the design and construction programme for the extension.
The main extension work was completed in May and the final phase of the project included an extension to the school’s multi-purpose hall.
The extension was built as part of £6 million funding secured from the Department for Education Need Capital Grant to be delivered through the Schools Capital Programme 2017/18.
Councillor Peter Clark, Portfolio Holder for Learning, Skills and Safeguarding Children at Hull City Council, said: “The extension to both the school and the outdoor facilities will make a huge difference for all children attending Kingswood Parks Primary School.
“I am also delighted that the local authority has been able to work with the academy and Sewell Construction to extend the school, enabling children to attend this primary school within their own local community.”
Richard King, Chair of Esteem Consortium, said: “We are delighted Esteem continues to support Hull City Council in its mission to transform the education opportunities for the children and young people of Hull.
“This has been an 18-month project and a significant scheme, which will ensure the increase in demand for primary school places in the local area is met.
“We’re honoured to have such a strong partnership with Hull City Council and continue to work together to support the education of children in the city.”
Kingswood Parks Primary School pupils have been able to watch the transformation of their school since work began in May 2017, even signing the steel for the new extension to leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Year 5 pupil Liam Shepherdson,10, said: “There is a lot more room since the builders came and the school has been getting bigger and bigger. The discos will be better now we have more room to dance in the hall.”
Jan Drinkall, Chief Executive Officer of North Carr Collaborative Academy Trust, of which Kingswood Parks Primary School is member, added: “Undertaking building work of this magnitude whilst keeping the school open and offering a full and vibrant curriculum is testimony to the flexibility and hard work of everyone concerned.
“I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Helen Miller and her team, the children, parents, contractors, Hull City Council and the wider community. We are very proud of Kingswood Parks.”