PICTURES: Ringmer school reopens after £4m project to create places

The work, which is part of an East Sussex-wide scheme by the county council to expand six schools in the area, has been a long time in the pipeline and after just over a year of on-site work, has finally been completed.

Headteacher Dave Evans said: “The primary school wasn’t big enough to meet the needs of the community.

“The project was to make more primary school places for the village and was funded by the local authority. It was a £4 million project to refurbish parts of the school including the front offices, hall, kitchen and junior classrooms, as well as building entirely new classrooms for the infants.

“The new classrooms are really beautiful and there is a wonderful new outside area for the infant children.

“It was hard work working through it as we had to uproot the whole school and move into temporary classrooms for a year but it was worth it.”

The capacity of the school has increased from 210 to 315 pupils, as well as additional places in a brand new on-site nursery, meaning the school can now accept children from ages two to 11. Some 270 school places have already been taken up, leaving 45 still available for new intake.

Mr Evans added: “We’re really pleased to have had the investment from East Sussex County Council.

“The pupils moved into the new classrooms a couple of weeks ago and are really happy with them. The junior classes have been enlarged and the infant classrooms are absolutely stunning.

“Some of the children’s work is already up on the walls, but we wanted to get in and get our feet under the desks before anything else.

“Our official opening was on Wednesday and we decided to have members of the school council cut the ribbon, as all this work has really been for the pupils.”

The opening was also attended by Councillor Nick Bennett, East Sussex County Council’s lead member for education and inclusion, special educational needs and disability.

Mr Evans confirmed he had already had some interest from parents of pupils at Pells Primary and Rodmell Primary Schools in Lewes which are facing closure, but said the additional school places will also help the village cope with the extra demand for education that comes with new development.

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