Pupils leave lasting legacy as school extension reaches steelwork milestone

Youngsters at Kingswood Parks Primary School have made their mark on the steelwork of their new school extension, leaving a lasting legacy for years to come.

Children with the highest attendance were chosen to sign the steel and their names will forever grace the structure which will be a learning base for thousands of pupils.

Kingswood Parks Primary School is located on the Kingswood residential development in North Hull, educating more than 300 pupils aged three to 11.

Due to an increase in housing in the area, there is a need to expand capacity to 630 pupils.

Sewell Construction built the original school, which opened in 2014, and worked with partners Hull Esteem Consortium and Hull City Council to develop the design and construction programme for the school’s extension.

Full planning consent for the scheme was granted in June and the steel-signing event marks the construction milestone as the steelwork begins.

Helen Miller, Principal at the school, said: “This is a really exciting expansion of the school which is going to offer an enticing environment to work in. The children are excited because they like to see what’s going on and are looking forward to seeing how the school will look.

“We spent a lot of time thinking about the design and how we can make it an environment that will suit the children’s learning. It’s great to see steel on site and we’ll soon be able to see the building rising up.”

Sewell Facilities Management also looks after the building and the team continues to support the school in the design of the extension, advising on the best possible materials and finishes to suit the educational environment and lifecycle longevity.

The scheme will also include some remodelling of the existing school, with all work completed by November 2018.

Councillor Phil Webster, Portfolio Holder for Learning, Skills and Safeguarding Children, said: “The site has changed significantly and it is exciting to see the expansion starting to take shape.

“I am delighted to be part of this key milestone and it is another step forward for this important project. The building looks great and I am looking forward to seeing the work progress to its completion.

“I’m pleased that the council is able to invest in this local school. As a result, it will double the intake from 315 to 630 places and allow the governors and staff to provide high quality education in a new and enhanced learning space, as well as offer a fantastic facility for the whole community to enjoy.”