Major milestone celebrated at new £8.2m primary school

TOPPING OUT: Hull City’s Lewie Coyle with Broadacre Primary School children

Construction of a new £8.2m primary school in Bransholme has reached the halfway point.

Partners celebrated the milestone at Broadacre Primary School with a ‘topping out’ ceremony involving staff and pupils, which also featured a guest appearance by Hull City player Lewie Coyle. 

Broadacre pupils have been watching their new school progress through viewing windows from their existing school playground since work commenced in January.

A selection of students were invited to tour the development site and help raise a flag to the highest point of the building to mark the occasion.  

The rest of the pupils gathered in the playground in their classroom bubbles to enjoy the celebrations. 

Lisa Staines, Executive Head at Broadacre Primary School, on Wawne Road, said: “The whole school has been so excited to see the new building taking shape over the weeks, and now we get to celebrate reaching such a significant milestone together.  

“The children created their own flags to wave in the playground as they danced along to music and watched the official raising of the Broadacre Primary School flag at the top of the building.   

“Sewell Construction and Esteem have engaged with the school throughout the process, and it means so much to us for the teams to become a part of our school community. We’re looking forward to the next few months as we lead up to the opening of our new school next year.” 

The new purpose-built school is being delivered by Hull Esteem Consortium LEP Ltd, the city council’s pre-procured framework, which has led the delivery of £400m of new and improved education facilities across Hull, along with culture and leisure regeneration projects, including Hull New Theatre and Ferens Art Gallery. 

PROGRESS: Lewie Coyle raising the flag with Broadacre Primary pupils

Esteem General Manager Gavin Barley said: “This school is very much needed and it is going to be a fantastic education facility that the pupils, staff, Humber Education Trust and everyone involved can be proud of. 

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Sewell Construction to deliver this prestigious project on behalf of Hull City Council.  

“It’s been a great team effort and we have worked hand-in-hand to reach this major milestone.  

“It’s really positive for Hull to deliver another education project and we’re delighted to continue to support the local authority in developing the education estate across the city. 

“Seeing the staff and pupils so engaged and excited in reaching the halfway point in the development just shows what a huge difference this new school is going to make.” 

Works to the new build school are due to be completed in September 2022, increasing capacity by 210 pupil places and incorporating a 10-place purpose-built space for children with Autistic Spectrum Condition, a 52-place nursery, enhanced external spaces and teaching areas, and a fenced multi-use games area.  

Councillor Shane McMurray, the city council’s Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, said: “I’m delighted that the build has reached this key milestone and is on track for completion in February next year. 

“Not only will this new build provide a fantastic environment for local children, but I’m pleased that it will offer purpose-built provision for children with autism.   

“We are investing around £50m in the city’s schools to ensure the city’s children have the best learning environments possible, and this school will provide just that.”