Months of delays before new primary school will open

A new primary school is to open months later than planned due to the collapse of contractor Carillion.

Hampton Lakes Primary School (formely known as Hampton East Primary School), was due to open in September 2019 to children in Reception on the new development to the east of the A15, near Teardrop Lake.

However, the contract for the project is currently being re-tendered with the building now expected to be completed by late spring 2020.

Helen Price, executive headteacher of Hampton Academies Trust, which is to run the new free school, said: “In order to still open on time to an intake of 30 Reception children, the children and staff will be accommodated on a temporary basis at Hampton College Primary Phase (HCPP) from September 2019.

“We intend to convert the staffroom into a classroom for two terms. This means that Hampton College primary children will not be moved or disturbed and that the teachers and support staff at HCPP will get a refurbished staffroom once the class has moved to the new building.”

A Peterborough City Council spokesman said: “Any additional costs arising from Carillion’s liquidation cannot be confirmed until the procurement process is complete and the new contractor is appointed.”

The school when up and running will provide 420 new primary school places for children living in Hampton East and the wider Hampton area, and 26 nursery places.

Free schools are outside of local authority control.

Hampton College