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Lea Community Primary School in Preston has officially unveiled its significant £3.5 million expansion marking the completion of a two-year project that will see the school’s pupil intake gradually double.
The revamp has been carried out in collaboration between Lancashire County Council, Lancashire-based Warden Construction, and the school across two years.
The project involved the addition of six new classrooms, along with extensive internal refurbishment and remodelling of existing classrooms, the library, and kitchens.
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Outside, pupils will benefit from a restored trim trail with brand new equipment and all-weather surfacing, a new sensory garden, and a new playground featuring an interactive area.
The enhancements also include new planting and landscaping with 30 new trees and 10 new bushes, as well as the incorporation of two new electric vehicle charging points and solar panels, contributing to the school’s sustainability efforts.
Funded by Lancashire County Council’s Department for Education grant, the £3.5 million investment means Lea Community Primary School will gradually be able to welcome an additional 210 pupils in future years, effectively doubling its current intake and providing a significant boost in school places for the local community.
Headteacher Lynne Slater expressed her gratitude and excitement for the future.
She said: “The new classrooms demonstrate our unwavering commitment to enhancing our capacity in continuing to provide quality education to meet the growing needs of our pupils and our local community. We are confident that these new spaces will continue to inspire our pupils to excel both personally and academically.”
Children from the school are already delighted with the new facilities. Samaira said: “The new classrooms are so spacious and welcoming, we cannot wait to begin learning in the new rooms. There are new toilets and new taps, and I like the views out of the classrooms – you can see the flowers.”
Another pupil, Vinny said: “What I like best is that the new classrooms have air conditioning.”
Meanwhile, pupil Samuel said: “I like how our desks have got drawers for our English and Maths, and the new classrooms have got beautiful new cupboards for us to put things in for the other things we do.”
Cllr Matthew Salter, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Lancashire County Council, highlighted the long-term benefits. He said: “I’m delighted to be attending the official handover of the new facilities at Lea Primary School, and to speak to children and staff first-hand about how they welcome these new additions.
“This will mean that the school can double its intake, and that more children and families in the local community will be able to enjoy learning here in the coming years.”
Cllr Alf Clempson said: “I was absolutely thrilled to visit Lea Community Primary School. It was a wonderful occasion to mark the opening of some lovely new facilities, and I would like to thank the headteacher and staff and all at the school for welcoming us.”
Representing Warden Construction at the official handover were director Adrian Atkinson, health and safety advisor Bethany Elder, site manager Andy Worthington, contract manager Geoff Noblett, social value coordinator Heather Thompson, and marketing assistant Laura Atkinson.
Adrian Atkinson, director of Warden Construction, said: “This has been an incredibly rewarding project for Warden Construction, delivering beautiful new classrooms and modern, state-of-the-art play facilities, as well as additional social value outcomes.
“These improvements will allow children to fully benefit from the new spaces, and the school will now be able to double its intake, which is a fantastic boost for the community.”
As part of its commitment to social value, Warden Construction undertook several school visits to engage pupils in construction learning activities and donated prizes for the school’s summer fairs throughout the project.
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