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Curtain raises for St Nicholas’ Primary School

Two leading actors were among the cast when St Nicholas’ C of E Primary School in Alcester raised the curtain for its official opening this week.

Michael Elwyn, who plays Marian’s father in the current BBC series Robin Hood, has kept links with the area since his father was the Rector and Chair of Governors of the original Alcester C of E Primary School between 1955 and 1965. Michael attended the opening ceremony along with leading actress Alison Steadman who is best known for her roles in the films Pride and Prejudice and Shirley Valentine and the television series Fat Friends.  Prior to the official opening ceremony, the actors met pupils and held drama and comedy workshops.

The Bishop of Coventry, the Right Reverend Colin Bennetts, was the guest of honour at the official opening ceremony. He led hymns and prayers before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the school’s opening. The oldest and youngest pupils, eleven-year-old Amy Potter-Fox and four-year-old Jessica Harris, gave the Bishop a guided tour of the school before cutting the ribbon.

Forty years ago the original primary school in Alcester split into two places of learning, Alcester Infant School and St Faith’s C of E Junior School. In 2003 Warwickshire County Council decided to reunite the schools again with the addition of a private nursery, Teddy Bear Corner.
Warwickshire County Council worked in partnership with the school on the three-year project which cost £2.5 million. The project involved the building of ten new classrooms and a nursery in addition to the refurbishment of the school hall, four classrooms, a swimming pool and office block.

Mark Gore, Head of Education, Partnerships and School Development for Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are extremely pleased with the new facilities at St Nicholas’ C of E Primary School which will offer children aged three to eleven excellence in learning.”

Headteacher, Sally Staley, said: “The children are very proud of their new classrooms and they are thrilled to be using the swimming pool again. They were particularly excited to be working with two famous actors for the day.  We are so grateful to everyone who supported us to make it a day to remember.”