School’s new look

Pupils and teachers have marked the opening of a new-look Newark school.

Pupils and teachers have marked the opening of a new-look Newark school.

William Gladstone Church of England voluntary controlled Primary School officially opened its doors on Monday.

The school was formerly The Cleveland Green Federation, Newark, which includes Hawtonville Junior School and Oliver Quibell Infants’ School.

A service was held attended by the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham, the Right Rev Paul Butler, and representatives of Nottinghamshire County Council at Christ Church, Newark.

The county council gave £500,000 for improvements, with nearly £200,000 of that spent on work to improve facilities for younger children at family and children’s centre accommodation at the school.

Improvements have included new windows, a new heating system, new fascias, upgrading the fire alarm system and developing a more open-plan environment.

The head, Mrs Jackie Warren, said: “The school’s new status will bring about a seamless transition from foundation level to primary school and we have built a wonderful school community on this site.

“The new-look school is a fantastic asset for the area and pupils have settled in well in the first few weeks of the new school year.”

William Gladstone was Newark’s MP for 14 years and was Prime Minister four times between 1868 and 1894.

Claire Meese, the director of education for the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham, said: “It has been a pleasure and privilege to have been involved in the planning and preparation for setting up this new school.

“We are delighted to have a new Church of England primary school in this area and are looking forward to working in partnership with the head and the Rev Samantha Tredwell to create a really vibrant church school.

“We want it to be a place where children, parents and staff have an opportunity to encounter Christian faith in action and where there will be a strong sense of community based on Christian values.”