Work to upgrade school is 'exciting' for the community and pupils, says head of Peterchurch Primary
The project got underway at the end of last month and aims to increase the school's capacity and redevelop the existing site
A project to transform a Herefordshire school will make a 'big difference' to it says its headteacher.
Construction work began at the end of September at Peterchurch Primary School to create a brand-new building by redeveloping the existing school site so it can accommodate a growing number of pupils.
The new facility will increase capacity from 105 to 140 students and work will also include the creation of a dedicated ‘nurture hub’, which is designed to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Headteacher Nia Powell says it's felt like a long time coming and they are thrilled work has now started.
She said: "This has been an ongoing project, the money has been there for nearly a decade now so it's been something that generations of the community have kind of been waiting for.
"I think it was one of those things that we were waiting and waiting for and not sure whether it was ever going to happen so now it's finally here it is super exciting for the whole community.
"It will really make a big difference."
The project is being carried out by Tilbury Douglas and is supported by a £10 million investment from Herefordshire Council as part of its commitment to supporting high-quality education in rural communities.
Powell also says it will help them to be better protected from the risk of flooding after suffering from it last October.
"Unfortunately it was the torrential rain downpour we had in a short space of time and the water was trying to get itself to the river within that time," she said.
"We were actually in the design process so I was able to send videos and photos to the architects and the design team so that we can have an attenuation tank which will be on the field to help collect and gather that water.
"This will stop it coming into any school building or into the rest of the community and we'll have drainage along the field area which is where a lot of the water kind of gathers."
The work is due to be complete so the new facility can open its doors next autumn.