Major refurbishment work will transform a Shrewsbury primary school after a project costing £170,000 was given the go-ahead – despite a halt being called to school building projects nationwide.
Sundorne Infant School and Nursery, on Corndon Crescent, had its ambitious building project shelved last summer when school bosses decided the work quoted was too costly.
But now the long-awaited scheme has finally been given the green light and work to transform the 60-year-old building will begin on July 26.It is hoped it will be completed by September.
The news comes despite an announcement on Monday that the Government is set to scrap its school redevelopment scheme.
Three classrooms will be fully refurbished and new doors and window fittings will be fitted in six class bases.
Land at the front of the school which previously flooded will be dug up and landscaped and security fencing put around the perimeter of the school which will create a secure outdoor classroom for six teaching groups.
The nursery will be kitted out with new flooring and an extended canopy to the front of the school will enable ‘free-flow’ access to an outdoor learning environment which will benefit all 369 students.
Money has been raised through a variety of different sources including the school’s capital programme budget, local authority conditional funds and from matched funding sources.
To prepare for the major work ahead of the summer holidays pupils started moving to different rooms in the school yesterday, Wednesday, to get ready for a new teaching layout in the autumn term.
Headteacher Alan Derry said: “It’s been on the cards for two years now so to get the go-ahead is really brilliant news for the children, staff and everyone connected with the school.
“The building is 60-years-old and it has never had any work done on it before. The window fittings are still the original ones and they are less than adequate now.
“This project will completely transform the front of the school and is the outcome of everybody pulling together and working hard to make it happen – we’re all really excited.”
By David Seadon