New Littlehampton school plagued by delays

Nine temporary classrooms have been brought in to accommodate the pupils, more than a quarter of the expected 775 children who will be attending River Beach.

Millions of pounds are being spent by West Sussex County Council on the project, creating the new school from the merger of Connaught Junior, Arun Vale Infant and Elm Grove Infant schools.

Yesterday (Wednesday) construction work seemed a fair way from completion, with the steel framework of the new buildings standing out against the sky.

They will provide a new school hall, new classrooms, entrance area, computer suite, community room and admiinstrative facilities.

Judy Grevett, former head teacher of Connaught and head of the new school, said she hoped the delay would not take the gloss off the major investment in Littlehampton’s primary schools, which was long overdue.

Building work is also behind schedule at the new White Meadows Primary School at Wick, formed by merging Wickbourne Infant School and Flora McDonald Junior School, but no classrooms are affected.

West Sussex County Council confirmed the delays at both schools yesterday. A spokesman said: “The extensive, multi-million pound building works at River Beach Primary School are now predicted not to be complete until later in the autumn term.

“The contractors have organised the provision of temporary classrooms to be on site over the summer holidays and they will enable the school to open as planned in September.

“The head teacher and governing body advised all parents before the end of the summer term of the delay and arrangements that are being put in place and this has been well received.

“Discussions are currently ongoing this week with the contractors to determine the programme of works and the school is being kept fully involved.

“Nine temporary classrooms have been brought in by the construction company and will accommodate some 200 pupils (out of an expected pupil roll of some 775 pupils) until the new build classrooms are fully completed.

“We have advised parents that the temporary classrooms will have all the same facilities as the classrooms the children will occupy once complete.”

Mrs Grevett told the Gazette: “Although we are disappointed about the delay in our building works, we will do our very best to ensure that all the children at River Beach Primary still get the best education possible and gain ‘Every Chance, Every Day’ from the first day of the new school.

“It is a very exciting time for us and I am sure that the final fantastic buildings and resources will be worth waiting for.”

The county council spokesman also confirmed that building work at White Meadows would not be fully complete by the start of term.

He added: “But we must emphasise that ALL the classrooms will be available for use and the only area delayed is the new build entrance and staff administration accommodation. Alternative arrangements have been put in place by the construction company to ensure the school has a temporary entrance and administrative accommodation.

“We have been in close contact with the school and confirmed there would be a delay before the end of term so arrangements could be put in place to advise parents who have been supportive of the project to create a new physical link joining the previous two schools into one new school and with extensive refurbishment to the buildings.”