Children rejoice as new classrooms bring to an end building work disruption

Children at a Great Yarmouth school are celebrating months of disruption coming to an end - with four brand new classrooms to show for it.

Work building on Northgate Primary School has been going on since October 2016, as part of the school expanding from an infant school to a primary.

Throughout this time, pupils have endured life in mobile classrooms and temporary homes, with constant building around the school.

However, with work now complete, pupils in Year 4 and Year 5 have a building they can call their own.

The new section of the school, which cost more than £2m, also contains new changing rooms, a library space and a drama studio.

Lindsay Hanger, headteacher of the school, said: “Logistically, it was a bit of nightmare to be honest. The company did do a very good job of engaging the children - taking them on site visits and things like that - but it is a big relief to have it done.

“The Year 5 class in particular had quite a difficult experience - they began in a mobile then had to go into a Year 2 class and had such a tremendous need for a classroom of their own, so I’m glad we can now give that to them.”

While it was hoped the building would be completed in time for the beginning of this school year, it is done comfortably in time for September, when the school will have classes from Reception to Year 6 for the first time.

Mrs Hanger added: “The feedback from parents has been overwhelmingly positive. We recently held an open evening where parents could look around and it was very popular, with everybody pleased with the prospects for their children it offers.

“As a school we are bulging at the seams and have a waiting list for every year group, so the new building is very important for us.”

The school, previously known as Northgate Infant School, became a primary school as part of Norfolk County Council’s education shake up in the town. It was rated good in its last Ofsted inspection.