The youngest person ever to ski to the South Pole has received a warm welcome at the official opening of a £2.15m school redevelopment by the Council.
Amelia Hempleman-Adams, who completed her record-breaking 97-mile trek last December when she was just 16, cut the ribbon on the replacement school hall and new classrooms at Batheaston Primary School on Thursday 14 June 2012.
She was joined by Cllr Rob Appleyard, Chairman of Bath & North East Somerset Council, and Cllr Nathan Hartley, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Early Years, Children and Young People, to enjoy musical performances from the school choir and steel pan band.
Cllr Nathan Hartley (Lib-Dem, Peasedown), said: “One of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s objectives is to ensure our schools develop and extend their role in the local community. We prioritised four primary schools with the poorest condition buildings to benefit from government funding, including Batheaston Primary School which received a total of £2.15m.
“We’re delighted to have helped replace the old post-war concrete and temporary wooden buildings with a new block featuring a new assembly hall so that it can hold whole school assemblies, PE and put on plays. There are also two new classrooms for the reception and Year 6 pupils, plus space for small groups, and a new serving kitchen producing delicious healthy food for the school and community.”
The whole school community involved themselves in the scheme and after a year of planning, construction began in August 2010 and was completed by the following August.
The quality of construction, from Batheaston contractors Mealings, and the design of the buildings have already been recognised with an award for Community Benefit from the RICS South West Awards 2012, and a regional Green Award from the Young People’s Trust for the Environment, as well as an entry in the Best of British Schools Awards 2012.
The scheme’s success is due to the close engagement of school head and governors with the design team throughout the planning and construction process to ensure the new buildings fully met and supported the educational ethos and aims of Batheaston Primary School.
Headteacher Sarah Weber said: “Everyone at Batheaston Primary School is so grateful to all the people who made it possible for us to enjoy our wonderful new buildings and outdoor learning environment.
“It is a joy to come to school every day and know that all the children can look forward to an outstanding educational provision in such beautiful facilities which have also helped improve community involvement. Our sensational new outdoor learning space can be accessed by all our children for daily lessons, and enjoyed by Jack and Jill Playgroup as well as many more members of our local community.
“The children were thrilled that Amelia Hempleman-Adams kindly agreed to cut the ribbon for our new buildings as she is a very inspirational young woman whose bravery and perseverance has ensured she has become a role model for our pupils.”
The redevelopment was part of Bath & North East Somerset Council’s primary capital programme which included investment for Batheaston Primary, Bathford Primary, Midsomer Norton Primary, and Weston All Saints Primary totalling £8.8 million.
