Pupils and staff at St Peter’s C of E Junior School have returned to their site in Ruddington after a temporary school building was opened following months of disruption caused by structural issues.
The school was forced to close in December when routine window repair work uncovered rot in timber structural columns, leading to concerns about the safety of the building. As a result, around 350 pupils were relocated to other schools while a solution was put in place.
A new temporary facility has now been completed on the Ashworth Avenue site, allowing all pupils and staff to be brought back together. The accommodation includes a two-storey classroom block, alongside a separate single-storey building housing a hall, kitchen, dining space and offices. A dedicated special educational needs unit has also been included.
Head teacher Michael Bradley said the reopening marked the end of what he described as a challenging period for the school community, adding that it was an emotional moment to see pupils return.
He said the closure had led to a sudden change in day-to-day school life, with pupils and staff dispersed across multiple locations, but said efforts had been made to maintain a sense of continuity for children during that time. He added that having everyone back together on one site again would help restore a more normal learning environment.
Pupils returning to the temporary building said they were pleased to be back in one place, with some describing the new facilities as modern and more spacious than expected.
Nottinghamshire County Council said the temporary building, costing £6.5 million, had been funded by the Department for Education. The authority also confirmed that feasibility work for a permanent replacement school has been approved, subject to further government funding.
Plans are being developed to demolish the existing building and replace it with a new school, with construction expected to take place within the next two years if funding is secured.
All images © St Peter’s C of E Junior School
