Olympic medal hero launched “exciting new era” in primary school’s history
AN OLYMPIC hero has helped a primary school mark an exciting new era in its history.
Chloe Rogers was present at the unveiling of Takeley Primary School’s impressive state-of-the-art facility on a new site at Priors Green in Little Canfield.
Miss Rogers, who won a bronze medal with Team GB ladies hockey team at London 2012, cut the ribbon to open the new building during a special assembly on Friday.
A number of dignitaries, including Dunmow MP Sir Alan Haselhurst and former headteacher Richard Harris – Dunmow’s town crier – were also in attendance.
Addressing the pupils at the assembly, headteacher Mandy Line announced that “history starts today”.
“This is a real opportunity to move forward,” she said. “We are very fortunate as this is an inspirational building with fantastic facilities which enhances our provision and will allow us to go from strength to strength.”
The school moved from its previous site in Roseacres to the new 4.77-acre plot in Bennett Canfield at the start of the academic year.
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With 12 single-storey, pitched-roof brick buildings containing classrooms, a hall, kitchen, PE store, community room and reception area, as well as playing fields, play area and pupil allotments, the facility has the capacity and facilities to accommodate future growth, with the intake capacity expanding from 210 to 420 pupils.
Parent governor Mark Gaby, chairman of the school’s committee in charge of the relocation, said the opening of the new buildings was the culmination of “four or five years of hard work”.
“It is one thing to see the school in its design phase, but another to see it for real. It is better than we could have expected, and an amazing achievement to see it finally built,” he said.
“It shows what can be done with time and a clear brief of what we were looking for.
“The feedback from the staff and pupils has been excellent.”
A plaque to mark the officially unveiling has been put up in the reception area of the new building.
