Didcot primary opens new classrooms (From Banbury Cake)

Didcot primary opens new classrooms

3:14pm Friday 26th June 2009

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THE sky is the limit at a Didcot primary school which has opened new classrooms, complete with a striking glass roof centrepiece.

The £1m project at Stephen Freeman Community Primary School follows hot on the heels of the opening of the school’s children’s centre last October.

The centre is one of 29 in the county and offers a range of services such as ante-natal support, health visitor clinics, drop-in play sessions and advice for adults on training and employment.

The four new classrooms were funded by Oxfordshire County Council and have been provided to help meet rising demand for school places in the fast-growing town.

The school is anticipating a big increase in pupils numbers when the nearby Great Western Park housing development is built over the next few years.

Developers responsible for building the 3,300 new homes will pay £645,000 to the county council towards the cost of the extension project as part of a legal agreement.

Headteacher Ruth Bennie said: “I’m thrilled with our new building and that we now have a children’s centre on the school site.

“Having the additional space is a real boost for the school and will allow us to welcome even more families into our friendly community.”

The new building has been constructed on the site of the school’s former swimming pool.

An Oxfordshire County Council spokesman said the site had been chosen to help unify the two teaching blocks at the school and minimise the impact on the school site.

Janet Tomlinson, the council’s director for children, young people and families, said: “I’m delighted that this project at Stephen Freeman is complete and the classrooms have now been handed over.

“The new building is wonderful and will enable the school to offer even more excellent learning opportunities to local children.”

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