Pupils and staff at Sidney Stringer Primary Academy have joined contractor Thomas Vale on site to mark the beginning of work to their new primary school, which is due to be completed this Autumn. 
 
Sidney Stringer Primary school is part of the Government’s Free School programme and opened for 60 reception aged children in September 2015.  It is part of the Sidney Stringer Multi Academy Trust and is sponsored by Sidney Stringer Academy, an outstanding secondary school.  
Thomas Vale, which is part of Bouygues UK – one of the country’s leading contractors, has been awarded the contract to construct a new two form entry facility, through the Regional EFA Framework.
 
Sidney Stringer Primary school is currently located in temporary classrooms in the main academy next to the construction site. Eventually the school will cater for 420 pupils, with 60 in each year group, and is already very popular with families in the local community. 
 
Emma McCann, Headteacher at Sidney Stringer Primary, said “ We are delighted that we are getting a brand new school for our children; they deserve the very best to support their learning.  It is really exciting to see the building going up so quickly and we are looking forward to moving into the new classrooms for the start of the Autumn term.”
 
Craig Tatton, Managing Director at Thomas Vale said: ‘It’s great that we were able to get the pupils from Sidney Stringer involved in the groundbreaking event. It’s a good way for them to establish a connection with what will soon be their new school and we will be trying to keep them involved throughout the duration of the construction work. We recently completed another school project in Coventry and are looking forward to continuing the good relationships we’d developed with people in the local community while we deliver the new primary school.”