Construction work to rebuild Copley Primary School and Moorside Community Primary School in Ovenden, Halifax, is underway. Pupils and staff are due to move into the impressive new buildings in the new term.
Commissioned by Calderdale Council, the project received an £8.6 million investment that will see the creation of brand new, modern facilities including new sports areas equipped for football, hockey, netball and basketball. The finishing touches, including fixtures and fittings, are now being put in place by lead contractor, Wates Construction. Once completed, the new school buildings will provide a state-of-the-art home for more than 500 Halifax pupils.
“It’s exciting to see the new school buildings really taking shape. We have invested in these fantastic new facilities to provide a top-class learning experience for local children to help them achieve their best. Enhancing local people’s talent is a key part of Vision 2024 to make Calderdale a place where people want to live, learn, work and invest,” said Cllr Megan Swift, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services.
The construction project has created new jobs for local people, and school staff and pupils have been involved throughout, including work experience opportunities, planting flowers, design updates and career talks.
“The new term begins with our move into the new build, marking a brand new phase for the children and staff of Copley School. The facilities now taking shape after so many months of planning and designing are just fantastic. The first day we welcome the children into the new build will be a very special one. The exciting redevelopment starting in September, of the park and play area on the old school site will also be such a welcome facility for the village community. The children have been involved in this redesign and cannot wait for it also to be completed,” said Nan Oldfield, Headteacher of Copley Primary School.
The construction of the new school facilities for Copley and Moorside marks the latest in a number of education projects delivered by Wates in Yorkshire and the North East. These include the new £57m Quarry Hill campus for Leeds City College and the new £22.3m National Horizons Centre research and training facility for Teesside University in Darlington.
