Newark: East Markham Primary School pupils and teachers thrilled with new hall
Students and teachers at a primary school have been thrilled with their new hall.
The expansion of the Grade II listed Victorian East Markham Primary School has been the subject of a long campaign by Nottinghamshire County Council.
The school was one of only a few in the area with no hall.
The hall, a new classroom and upgrade of the school’s dining facilities were funded from the council's £1.4m basic need fund.
Head Mrs Laura Duggin said the staff and pupils at the community school, which is maintained by Nottinghamshire County Council, were delighted with their new hall and were looking forward to using these facilities for many events in the future.
“It’s such an invaluable resource for us. We’re growing in numbers as a school and we’re so excited for the benefits that the new hall will bring to our community," said Mrs Duggin.
“It means that children can have their lunch together, be taught top quality PE lessons in bad weather, perform plays and concerts on the school premises and have an appropriate space to meet and hold celebrations, such as good work assemblies.
“We’re looking forward to the opportunities our new space allows us and are excited to use this moving forward."
Freya (year four) and Dixie (year two) said they love their new school hall because they can now eat lunch and talk to their friends.
Seth (year one) and Billy (reception) said they liked the hall's big windows and how they can now partake in lots more activities.
Tracey Taylor, children and young people’s committee chairman, said the expansion was a long time coming.
“The school has campaigned over the years with great tenacity and with help from local councillor John Ogle," she said.
Head of pre-construction Sara Williams said: “We are very proud to have designed and delivered the hall extension, classroom and kitchen, providing an invaluable resource for the pupils and teachers at East Markham School.
“Building our experience in the heritage sector and working with Nottinghamshire County Council, G F Tomlinson and East Markham School, we’ve created a truly collaborative working partnership which has delivered a complex project on schedule.”
As a result of the new additional space, the school’s published admissions number (PAN) has risen from 20 to 30 pupils, which sees overall capacity rising from 150 to 210 from reception to year six (ages four to 11).
These additional places will help meet modern demographic needs of the Tuxford Primary Planning Area; comprising East Markham, Dunham Church of England and Tuxford primary schools.
It has experienced significant growth in the past ten years due to housebuilding in the area and this trend is expected to continue.
The new school hall and improvements to kitchen facilities will also see an increase in the number of children having school meals while at school.
The construction was a joint venture formed by Nottinghamshire County Council and SCAPE which delivers design, construction, and asset management services to the council’s property portfolio.
Photos attached
1. Councillor Tracy Taylor, Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council's Children and Young People's Committee
2. East Markham Primary School
3. Headteacher of East Markham Primary School, Mrs Laura Duggin, and pupils.
