School celebrates brilliant new build
Pupils, staff and parents have been celebrating the opening of Stockingford Infant School’s brand new learning facilities.
Headteacher Gwyneth Evans and Cllr John Burton (Cabinet Member for Schools) joined pupils, parents and staff for the official opening of Stockingford Infants new school buildings on Friday 8 June 2007.
Warwickshire County Council has invested over £1 million in the project to provide four new state-of-the-art classrooms and a brand new entrance.
Stockingford Infant School originally opened to the local community in 1905. Now, just over a century later, the school has added four classrooms, a new reception area and office, a practical area, new toilets and changing facilities and a refurbished staffroom.
Pupils gathered artefacts for a time capsule which was buried to mark the opening ceremony. The capsule, which reflects over a hundred years of school life, contains artwork, poems, music and a school log book.
The new school has been built to high environmental principles and was planned to enhance the original school building, which was built in 1905. The design team went to great lengths to ensure the building was in keeping with the original style and a “bull’s eye” motif, which is typical of the Victorian era, has been incorporated into the steep pitched roof. The school extension features large bricked external walls and special stone banding.
Children have also played an active role in the development and each of the 313 pupils has designed a paving stone for the school pathway that leads from the gates to the new reception area. They have also been involved in a project led by sculptor Spencer Jenkins, who was the school’s artist in residence and helped the children to create a ‘family sculpture’. The school was awarded a grant of £15,000 from West Midlands Arts.
Warwickshire County Council worked in partnership with the school on the 2-year project. The building work was carried out by Bluestone PLC under a framework contract with the County Council.
Head teacher, Gwyneth Evans, said: “The new facilities Stockingford Infant School will offer children aged from 4 to 7 an outstanding learning environment for the 21st century. The children proud of their new school building and they are delighted that Bob the builder will be paying them a special visit on the day. “
Cllr John Burton, Cabinet Member for Schools, said: “This innovative scheme forms the perfect base for learning. Pupils have played an active role in the development and we are confident that they will enjoy using their new classrooms.”
Project Manager Nigel Brookes of Warwickshire County Council, said: “We are delighted to be involved in designing and constructing this landmark building. These replacement facilities will bring the learning environment to a standard suitable for a school for the 21st Century and will be a real asset for teaching future generations of children in their early years of schooling.”