St Leonard’s pupils ‘steel’ the show as foundations for new school laid
Pupils at St Leonard’s Catholic School in Durham were thrilled to be a part of history as they signed the steel foundations for their brand-new school!
Pupils and teachers from St Leonard’s and Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust (BWCET), along with representatives from the Department for Education and the construction company, BAM, joined in the excitement.
The children were even given the special opportunity to write their names on the very steel that will form the backbone of their new building.
Vicky Curry, Deputy Head Teacher of the school, said: “Our pupils were absolutely delighted to be part of this milestone. It was a fantastic experience for them to see firsthand how their new school is starting to take shape. They’ll be able to share these memories with future generations!”
Gracie, a pupil at St Leonard’s, echoed this excitement, saying: “It was amazing to sign my name on the foundations. It makes me feel like I’m truly part of building our new school. We’re all so excited!”
Chris Zarraga, Director of Schools North East, said: “We’re so pleased that students were able to take part in such a significant milestone, especially after more than a year of severe disruption from RAAC. No matter where their lives take them – and we know it’ll involve much success – they will forever have a piece of themselves attached to the place where it all began.”
Celebratory, fresh beginnings all around
St Leonard’s, after facing the significant challenge of needing to close parts of the school due to concerns about RAAC concrete, is now on the path to a brighter future.
The school community worked tirelessly to ensure continued learning for all students, temporarily relocating to various locations, including Ushaw College and a specially designed temporary facility called Our Lady of Help. This facility boasts impressive learning spaces, including science labs, technology rooms, and creative arts areas.
Despite the challenges, St Leonard’s recently achieved an outstanding Ofsted rating across all areas, a testament to the dedication and resilience of the entire school community.
The new school building, being constructed by BAM, will provide state-of-the-art facilities to support the school’s high standards of education. Jason Kelly, Construction Manager at BAM, said, “We’re thrilled to be working with everyone to create an exceptional learning environment. This is a fantastic opportunity for the pupils, and we were delighted to involve them in this important step.
Bishop Wilkinson Catholic Education Trust is a Schools North East Partner Trust. If you’d like to find out more about our Partner School membership, click here.
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