New Staple Hill Primary School tops out

A topping out ceremony to mark the latest milestone in the construction of the new Staple Hill Primary School building is being held on Wednesday 9th February.

The development, funded by South Gloucestershire Council, is being built by BAM Construction and is due to be completed in time for the start of the new school year in September 2011.

Cllr Sheila Cook, executive member for children and young people, said: “The topping out of Staple Hill Primary School is a significant milestone in this exciting development. When completed, this new building will be a wonderful environment for our young people to learn in and reach their full potential.”

Peter Foss-Clark, headteacher, said: “Staff, pupils and parents at the school are delighted at the progress of the new school building. To see the building rise up has been an exciting experience for all connected with the school and we are all looking forward to moving into the new facility later this year.”

The development, which is costing more than £7million, will provide a state of the art 11 classroom school for 315 pupils.

There will be a range of green eco features at the new school building, including naturally ventilated classrooms, an underground storage reservoir for water run-off and a gas fired air source heat pump which is a new and very energy-efficient way of providing heating and hot water. Air source heat pumps absorb heat from the air and this low-level energy is boosted to useable temperatures via a heat exchanger and refrigerant circuit.

The new Staple Hill Primary School is the latest development in the council’s ongoing multi-million pound school rebuilding programme.

Councillor Cook, added: “This development will provide a fantastic environment for young people to learn in and teachers and other school staff to work in. I’m really looking forward to when it opens as it will be a big boost for the local community.”

The new school will occupy part of the existing school playing field, a public car park and car park serving Page Community Association.

As part of the initiative, two new car parks will be provided for both the general public and the users of the adjacent Page Community Association. These car parks will be constructed on the playground of the existing school which is situated on the opposite side of Page Road.