School officially opens after first major renovations in 50 years
A SCHOOL in North Yorkshire has officially opened new facilities following the first major renovations in more than 50 years.
Work over the summer holidays at Dishforth Primary School involved demolishing an old classroom and installing two new ones to be used mainly by Key Stage 2 pupils.
The school’s layout was also altered to double the size of the hall to accommodate increasing numbers, the staff room was modernised and a new heating system has been installed throughout the building.
The revamp is the first major alterations since the school opened in 1964 and has cost North Yorkshire County Council more than £400,000.
The modernised buildings were officially opened by the Mayor of Harrogate, Coun Bernard Bateman.
Villagers and former pupils were invited, including three generations of one family who have attended the school. Memorabilia from the early days of the school was also on display.
Coun Patrick Mulligan, the county council’s executive member for schools, said: “We are delighted to deliver a project that modernises the school and provides additional capacity for the benefit of current and future pupils.”
The chairman of governors, Jim Brown, said the programme of works had been a tight turnaround for the main contractor, Simpson (York) Ltd.
He added: “They did an excellent job under the circumstances in a very short time over the summer holidays. The new facilities were available for the start of the new term, much to the delight of all our children.
“The children are proud of their new school and were very much involved in the opening celebrations with displays and showing our guests around the new facilities.”
Simpson said the works at Dishforth Primary had been a “challenging project” but the support from the staff and governors had ensured the work was finished on schedule.