Pride goes on parade
MORE than 500 children and parents paraded to a new £6.5million primary school for the first day of term.
Excited youngsters celebrated the start of the school year at Ernesettle Community Primary School yesterday by walking around the estate carrying banners.
The new state-of-the art school buildings have light and airy classrooms in distinctive curved designs.
They have replaced tired old structures which were more than 50-years-old and were used by the separate junior and infants schools before their merger three years ago.
The windows have been designed to be low enough for the children to look out on spectacular views across the River Tamar to Cornwall. Even the blinds have been made to go up and down without rattling.
Boring old bins have been replaced with penguin-shaped containers in the brightly-coloured soft play area.
Headteacher Barry Coppins said that the parade from Ernesettle Green to the Biggin Hill school showed the excitement in the area.
He added: "I think this turn-out is a true reflection of the close-knit community. It shows that people around here care. The children have been really looking forward to this day. They are particularly keen to try the new play areas. It's going to be wonderful."
Youngsters from nearby Mill Ford special school will share the state-of-the-art facilities, with their own unit to complement their own school over the road.
The two-storey building is designed as a curve to provide shelter from the weather and protection for a gigantic soft play circle.
The school, the Mill Ford Unit and an NCH children's centre, all have separate entrances. Ernesettle has 280 pupils, with 54 in the nursery.
There is a large hall with brand new kitchen facilities and a dance and drama studio, very unusual in a primary school, which will be available for the local community to use.
The entire school has underfloor heating.
The school is being built by contractors Interserve with funding of about £6.5 million from the Government's Building Schools for the Future programme.
Jemma Bouch, mother of Ernesettle pupils Reanne, Abbie and Jake, said during the parade: "I am looking forward to seeing it. It is great and the children are really excited."
Plymouth has seen the opening of two new primary schools, Riverside in Barne Barton and Whitleigh Community Primary.
4 Comments
by leanne, ernesettle
Wednesday, September 10 2008, 4:09PM
“i think the school is amazing and a lot of people in the community are talking about it, its needed doing for a long time i know all our children are going to be very happy there well done to everyone who helped make this happen”
by Paul Jarvis, Plympton
Tuesday, September 09 2008, 8:20PM
“What a fantastic achievement Huge thank to all of those who were responsible for the financing, designing and building of the new school. It gives the teachers and pupils a facility they deserve, and will hopefully reap benefits for Plymouth and the immediate local area in years to come. The buzz of excitement from children (and parents!) was amazing. We should now look to ensure that all schools in Plymouth are upgraded to similar standards.”
by Liz, Plymouth
Tuesday, September 09 2008, 2:04PM
“Good Luck to you all. It was a long time coming but was worth it in the end.”
by Liz H, Plymouth
Tuesday, September 09 2008, 2:03PM
“Good Luck to you all - it was a long time coming!”