Students back under one roof after school closure

5 hours ago

Heidi BoothNottingham

News image — Pupils from St Peter's C of E Junior School have been welcomed back to a new temporary building after their school closed suddenly last year

BBC Six students and the head teacher are standing in front of a sign that reads 'welcome back. — Pupils from St Peter's C of E Junior School have been welcomed back to a new temporary building after their school closed suddenly last year

Pupils from a primary school in Nottinghamshire that suddenly shut last year have been reunited at a new "learning village" built on the former school site.

St Peter's C of E Junior School in Ruddington was forced to close in December after routine window repairs uncovered rot in the timber structural columns of the building.

Students and staff were moved to other schools for three months, but on Tuesday a new temporary building to house all 350 pupils opened on the old school grounds.

Head teacher Michael Bradley said he was "absolutely overwhelmed with emotion to see the children come back with big smiles on their faces".

Michael Bradley is smiling at the camera. He has light brown hair and is wearing a red shirt underneath a khaki green coat. — Head teacher Michael Bradley said it had been a "difficult three months"

He added: "The hard work that's been put into it, the challenges we've had to overcome, it's made it really worthwhile."

The new temporary site is made up of a two-storey building with classrooms, and a single-storey site with a hall, kitchen, eating area and offices.

There is also a separate special education needs unit.

Bradley previously called the disruption to his school "the most difficult period of my career".

But with the new school site open, he said it was nice to have everyone back under one roof.

"Life and learning changed overnight really. One day we were in the old school building; the next we were told it was unsafe for us to be there.

"As a community, we've worked together, we've stood shoulder to shoulder to make this an adventure for the children, not an ordeal. It's so good to be back together again in one building."

A grey two story building. A pupil with a red jumper is running towards the building carrying a backpack and a black coat. — The temporary school has been built on the original school grounds

The school, in Ashworth Avenue, has about 360 pupils between seven and 11 years old.

Lily, 11, said: "I really like it, it looks all shiny and new, and the amount of time they have done it in is amazing."

Eddie, also 11, said: "I think it looks like a prison outside, but on the inside it looks a lot better. It's a lot more spacious than I thought it would be.

"I think we can all agree that it's better to be under one roof instead of just all being scattered in different schools."

Nottinghamshire County Council said the £6.5m costs for the temporary building had come from the Department for Education (DfE), while feasibility work for a permanent replacement "has also got the go-ahead, subject to the confirmation of further government funding".

Plans are under way for the demolition of the old building to make way for a new one in the next two years.

Listen to BBC Radio Nottingham on Sounds and follow BBC Nottingham on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.