Councillors, partners, pupils and teachers gathered to celebrate the official opening of the new, single-storey extension at Chuter Ede Primary School’s Fernwood site, near Newark.
An additional 210 primary school places have been created, doubling the number of places.
This upgrade comes as part of an overall £9.4m investment, made up of £5.4m from Nottinghamshire County Council’s school places programme and £4m in housing developer contributions.
Pupils are now benefiting from eight new classrooms, a library and music room, an activity hall, a medical room, a football pitch and new outdoor equipment.
Councillor James Walker-Gurley, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Asset Management, attended the celebration event. He said:
“We are delighted that this extension is now complete. Investing in our future generations is essential, as young people deserve to learn in well-equipped and modern buildings to help their education.
“It’s fantastic that this project has doubled the number of school places to help address growing demand in the area, so it’s a real boost for this community.”
Headteacher Mrs Bernadette Hunter added:
“This extension represents far more than additional classrooms; it is an investment in our children and their future. Having eight new, high-quality learning spaces will allow us to provide the best possible environment for teaching and learning, supporting both our current pupils and those who will join us in the years ahead.
“It is wonderful to see our growing school benefit from facilities that match the ambition, talent and potential of our children. We are proud of what this development means for our community and excited about the opportunities it will bring for generations of pupils to come.”
One of the pupils, Starling, 10, is enjoying the improvements made. She said:
“I think it’s really cool and I think it’s a good change, as it was tiny before, but you get your steps in now!
“The classrooms are beautiful and very roomy, and we have so many new things to enjoy.”
This work has been designed, project-managed and cost-managed by Arc Partnership, a joint venture between Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE, and delivered through its construction partner, Morgan Sindall.
Daniel Maher, Managing Director at Arc Partnership, said:
“We are proud to have supported Nottinghamshire County Council in the expansion of Chuter Ede Primary School. Arc Partnership has designed, project-managed and cost-managed, alongside our construction partner Morgan Sindall, a high-quality learning environment. Now complete, the school expansion will support and provide benefits to local students and families for years to come.”
The project has also provided students at Nottingham Trent University with valuable opportunities to develop their skills in architecture, technology, project management and quantity surveying.
This has been made possible through the University’s partnerships with Arc Partnership and Morgan Sindall and has seen students participate in site visits to Chuter Ede Primary School and attend lectures focused on the project.
Chuter Ede Fernwood, an annex of Chuter Ede Primary School at Balderton, was originally built in 2012 to serve the growing number of children living in the new Fernwood estate.
