PROUD PUPILS GUIDE VIPs AROUND ‘FUTURE-PROOFED’ SCHOOL

A Tamworth primary school welcomed VIPs and well-wishers to officially unveil a £1million new extension which will make ‘a big difference to the experience of children and staff.’

Pupils at Coton Green Primary School, which part of the respected Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP), acted as tour guides to show visitors around the new improvements at the site during a fun day of celebration on Tuesday, April 2.

VIPs got to see the three spacious new classrooms, a new studio space, library, kitchen area and cloakroom facilities, all of which have significantly increased the size of the school in Kipling Rise.

And visitors were also treated top songs and dance performances by pupils, as well as being able to look in on classes in the new buildings.

Students can still look forward to a new playground area as well, which will complete the expansion which was built by Fords of Blythe Bridge Ltd, funded by Staffordshire County Council and designed by Entrust Property Services.

Headteacher Richard Osborne said: “It was great to be able to let people see just how impressive the new facilities are, and also to be able to thank those who have made it possible.

“It has taken a lot of work and time to get to this point, because of delays caused by the pandemic, but we now have fantastic new facilities which will make a big difference to the experience of children and staff.

“They will allow the school to grow over the coming years, and the technology that has been installed has helped us future-proof the school too.

“I would like to thank Staffordshire County Council and Entrust for their commitment and input and also the contactors, Fords, who have been incredibly flexible and sensitive in how they have gone about their work, helping us to ensure that the children’s education was never impacted.

“I would also like to thank everyone at ATLP who have been hugely supportive of us throughout the build.”

It is expected that the expansion will create space for an additional 105 places across the school over a period of several years.

Richard Gill CBE, Chief Executive Officer of the ATLP, said:

“It was fantastic to see the improvements at Coton Green, which really do signal the start of a new era for the school. It is a very impressive, flexible design that also compliments the existing school buildings, freeing up so much space. It was also apparent how it has energised the pupils and the staff. Coton Green is a forward thinking school which is continually striving to provide the best possible education for the children, and investments like this help achieve that ambition.”

Jonathan Price, Staffordshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education said: “The expansion of this school forms part of our ongoing school’s capital programme, which will see a number of expansions and new schools built over the coming months and years. The new classrooms and other spaces look fantastic, and will give more pupils the opportunity to attend the school in future.”

Captions:

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Coton Green pupils busty in the school’s new kitchen.

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Students sang to entertain VIP visitors to the official launch of the expanded school.

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VIPs were also treated to a dance performance by pupils.

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Inside the library – the new facilities include the latest computer technology.

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The million pound expansion has created large and spacious classrooms at the school in Kiplings Rise.

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Students acted as tour guides to show VIP visitors around the new facilities.

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VIPs outside the entrance to the new facilities.

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Students and headteacher Richard Osborne with VIPs at the official launch of the expanded Coton Green Primary School.