School’s out forever at North Leamington School
The school bell has rung for the last time and doors have closed forever at the North Leamington Community School and Arts College sites on Binswood Avenue and Cloister Way in Leamington.
Term ended last Friday for pupils at the school who have a long summer break to enjoy before returning to their futuristic, brand new eco-school in Sandy Lane.
Pupils, Louise Rolf (Year 7), Luis Gilbert (Year 8), Kerry Paget (Year 9) and Anand Chanda (Year 10) have now left the lower school for the last time and are all excited about moving to the new school.
Louise Rolf, 12 said: “I play lots of sport so I think the best thing about the new school is the sports facilities like the hall, equipment and the all weather pitch.”
Kerry Paget, 14 said: “When we visited the school I was really impressed with the theatre which looks really professional and the space in the room can be used in different ways.”
Headteacher David Hazeldine said: “Everyone is looking forward to life in the new build but we will not forget North Leamington’s beginnings. The school’s social history is important and is remembered through design features including a heritage trail of old artefacts throughout the new buildings.
“North Leamington School originally came about through merging of four local schools, and as a result of this it had a number of bases in the area. To preserve memory, in consultation with students and staff we decided to name the five school colleges after the bases – Binswood, Croft, Blackdown, Park and Manor.”
Warwickshire County Council has worked closely in partnership with the school to create the £30 million, 21st century building, which has three faculty blocks, a sports centre and a main building ‘hub’.