Becket Primary School has been officially reopened following a rebuild. The new school building has been designed to deliver a state-of-the-art, sustainable learning environment for its pupils.
Students were welcomed to the new Becket Primary School building earlier this month, as the new academic year got underway. Senior Department for Education (DfE), contractor and Council staff, school governors and local dignitaries joined pupils and staff for an official opening ceremony to celebrate the completion of the project.
The rebuild is part of the DfE’s national School Rebuilding Programme (SRP), a £20 billion programme carrying out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects at school and sixth-form college buildings across England.
Derby City Council successfully applied to the DfE to request Becket Primary School and Pear Tree Infant and Nursery School were included in the programme and has worked closely with both schools and in support of the DfE to progress the schemes.
The projects were managed and funded by the DfE, with Tilbury Douglas appointed as the contractor. Becket Primary was completed in time for the new school year in September, while Pear Tree is due to be completed in October.
The new school buildings have been designed to meet current standards and specifications. For both schools, key elements include new classrooms built to enhanced modern specifications, upgraded facilities such as kitchens, halls, library areas and group rooms, as well as improved outdoor play areas and PE spaces. Both schools have been designed to operate as net-zero carbon buildings.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
It’s fantastic to see Becket Primary School open and full of pupils. The investment from the DfE has made it possible to create safe, modern facilities that meet the needs of today’s pupils.
It marks a major commitment to Derby’s future, with new spaces that will enrich the experience of pupils, staff and local residents for many years ahead.
Ashley Guest, headteacher at Becket Primary School, said:
I am incredibly proud of our pupils, staff and parents, who have shown such patience, resilience and unwavering support while waiting for a school building that truly meets the needs of our children.
This wonderful new school is much more than just a building. It is a place where our pupils can feel safe, valued and inspired to achieve their very best. We are excited to begin this new chapter together as a community and to see our children flourish in an environment designed with them at its heart.
Becket Primary School has been rebuilt on its existing playing field. Now that’s complete, the contractors will demolish the old structures and create a new playing field.
Chris Loach, East Midlands Regional Director for Tilbury Douglas, the construction company that worked on the project, said:
We are proud to have delivered this modern, sustainable new primary school in time for the new academic year. Working closely with the Department for Education, Derby City Council and the school, we have created a high-quality environment where children can learn and thrive. We wish the entire school community every success as it begins this exciting new chapter.