Yahoo News Pictures show latest progress on new County Durham school opening soon
A contractor behind a new County Durham primary school has shared a look behind the scenes as its development nears completion.
Construction on Spingmoor Grange School, which will replace the existing Ox Close Primary and Nursery Schools, is nearing completion and is expected to open in September this year.
The project is being headed by Esh Construction, working alongside Durham County Council (DCC), and will see a two-storey 630-student capacity school erected.
It will be located on the Durham Road site of the former Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School.
Grant Watson, Construction Manager for Esh’s commercial build division, said: “At Esh, we are proud to work within the local community to deliver a brand-new primary school that will benefit the local area for years to come.
“Working alongside Durham County Council, the school is being delivered to ensure that children in the area have the best facilities to learn and develop in their early school years.
“Throughout the scheme, we are working hard to maximise the social and economic benefits for the local area – to date, 91% of the workforce are from the North East region, 166 apprentice weeks have been delivered, and 24 veterans have worked on the project.”
The developer has said brickwork, rainscreen cladding and curtain walling are all “substantially complete.”
Photovoltaic (PV) panels have been installed on the roof which will allow the school to generate its own solar energy.
21 teaching classrooms, a nursery, learning community suite, library, office spaces, staff room, toilet facilities, changing rooms, hall, and dining and kitchen facilities are planned for the finished . Fixed furniture is also being installed, including classroom kitchens.
The site car park is complete and work is ongoing off Spennymoor’s Durham Road to form new entrances into the school.
The project is being designed and funded by DCC and will ensure school provision in Spennymoor keeps pace with growing demand for places.
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Anna Bowden, Acting Executive Headteacher at Ox Close Federation, said: "It has been great to witness the progress of Springmoor Grange School over the last few months and we have continued to work alongside Durham County Council and Esh Construction to ensure that the project is of maximum benefit for the children of Spennymoor, their families and the wider community.
“The new school will enhance our current provision, whilst also building upon the high standards, strong community ethos and wraparound care that Ox Close Primary and Ox Close Nursery Schools are noted for.
“It is a very exciting time and we are looking forward to moving and welcoming the children this September."
