Newbury primary school completes £350,000 refurb

A NEWBURY primary school celebrated the completion of a £350,000 refurbishment project last week at an unveiling ceremony.

Robert Sandilands received £314,000 from West Berkshire Council and funded the balance itself in order to expand and improve on the schools facilities.

Part of the work, which started in April, included a new classroom, a new changing room for Year 6 girls, a new toilet for Year 6 boys, and an extension to the art room, as well as the provision of a new cycle shelter and scooter storage.

Added to these improvements was additional Foundation toilets, an office and meeting room for pastoral care and a medical inspection room.

Headteacher Richard Blofeld said: “We are delighted to have been able to work with the council on this mutually beneficial project.

“We are now able to accommodate an additional Foundation class at the school, and the children absolutely love the new facilities and their new learning space.

“I would like to thank everyone involved in making this project a success and for bringing it in on schedule.”

Executive member for education Dominic Boeck (Con, Aldermaston) said: “The core aim of the project was to provide the school with a new classroom in order to cater for demographic growth in the Newbury area.

“This will enable the school to take a bulge class of children for seven years. The opportunity was also taken to provide a number of facilities which will enhance the learning environment at Robert Sandilands for generations of local children to come.”

The new facilities were designed by The Bush Consultancy and built by Contract Trading Services. Work began in April and was completed last month.

They were opened at an official unveiling ceremony last Wednesday with West Berkshire Council chairman Peter Argyle and Newbury mayor Howard Bairstow cutting the ribbon.