Deeplish Community Primary School, is undergoing a £2.9 million expansion that will provide purpose-built facilities to cater for a further 60 pupils.
The new two-storey building, being constructed adjacent to the old school in Hare Street and will incorporate 15 classrooms. This will include a nursery, a library, a staffroom and smaller purpose designed rooms for group work.
Large and small multi-purpose halls will also form part of the build, enabling the school to expand its PE curriculum.
The building has been constructed using brick up to the first floor, with green and grey cladding above and a pitched roof. Design features include skylights throughout the top floor and over the large hall, flooding the interior with daylight. Other features include curved corridors and sloping eaves on the upper floor.
External works include the creation of canopied play areas for the nursery and Year 1 pupils, as well as the erection of new perimeter fencing. Sustainable features include under floor heating and solar panels.
The project is being carried out by Main Contractors Jackson, Jackson.
Headteacher Penny Burrow said: “I think that the new building is fabulous. Jackson Jackson has been working very closely with us; they have listened very carefully to what we wanted and have worked to give us what we have asked for.
“It has been a very good process and the quality of the build is good.”
The project was first approved in March 2008, whereby work was originally intended to remodel the existing school, with the addition of a first floor to the building. After much thought it was decided that the project would actually prove more cost effective if a new school was constructed.
The majority of the new school’s internal layout is identical to the remodeling proposals previously submitted to planning; however, the new design significantly improves the use of space.
It is also not the first time work has been undertaken on the school, as it previously had an extension added in 1987.
Jackson, Jackson Operations Director Kieren McDonnell said: “We were extremely proud to have been awarded the contract to build this local school, which secures local employment and helps support our local supply chain.”
During construction, staff and pupils have moved into temporary accommodation on site.
