Somerford Primary School and Highcliffe School win government funding to transform sites

TWO Christchurch schools will see their sites transformed after receiving government funding under the Department for Education’s (DfE) School Rebuilding Programme.

Following investment secured by BCP Council, Somerford Primary School has been prioritised for major refurbishment to its buildings.

As an academy, Highcliffe School has also secured funding following a successful bid by HISP Multi Academy Trust.

Helen Frampton, headteacher at Somerford, said the school would be bringing facilities together under one roof.

“We are delighted to have been selected for investment,” she said. “We have a large site, but legacy usage means that we are not maximising the opportunities to share learning across the years, and we operate out of some areas that are no longer fit for purpose.

“Notwithstanding this we have been rated ‘good’ by Ofsted and the funding will enable us to consolidate and modernise our school, ensuring our students have a positive learning environment for years to come and helping us on our journey to ‘outstanding’.”

The School Rebuilding Programme carries out major building projects at school and sixth-form college buildings across England, with sites prioritised according to their condition.

Cllr Nicola Greene, cabinet member for council priorities and delivery at BCP, said the authority had worked closely with the DfE to identify schools “most in need of replacement or major refurbishment”.

“We strive to ensure that every pupil enjoys going to school and experiences the best setting for their learning,” she said. “Somerford Primary is an important part of BCP’s schools offering, so I’m thrilled that the children learning there will be able to experience their site transforming over the next few years.

“I’m also delighted that the hundreds of children and young people attending the successful academies will benefit from additional investment that further enhances the quality of their teaching and learning environments.”

The schools were chosen along with three others in the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area. There are currently 400 projects ongoing within the programme.