Pictured with some of the young pupils are (l-r) architect Tom Lyons and Jon Hunter of GSS, Marriott Director Peter Hawes, Phil Hope MP, Geoff Collier of Marriott and Deputy Head Teacher Ash Scott.

Corby MP Phil Hope has taken part in a sod-cutting ceremony to mark the start of a multi-million pound school construction project.

The existing Exeter Infant and Junior Schools in Corby, Northants, are being merged to form one single Primary School. There will also be a new Children’s Centre, while the old Junior School building will be demolished.

Mr Hope said, “I was honored to be given the opportunity to take part in this ceremony which marks the beginning of the £3.6 million extension to Exeter school. The plans for the finished school and new Children’s Centre are very exciting. I look forward with great anticipation to the Grand Opening when the children and staff of Exeter Primary School will have two wonderful faculties to compliment all their hard work.”

The new facilities, which have been designed by GSS Architecture, will include a Key Stage One block incorporating six classrooms and a small hall. This adjoins the west side of the existing Infant School building. The new entrance features a secure lobby.

Within the existing Infants building four classrooms are being reconfigured to provide two larger Key Stage Two classrooms and two group rooms. An extension will also provide two further Key Stage Two classrooms and a WC block. A new Children’s Centre will form a link between the existing building and the nursery, which is being partially refurbished.

Plans include additional games courts and hard and soft play areas. Additional trees and planting are to be provided at the school entrance and along boundaries to reduce the impact of the work on surrounding homes.

GSS partner and architect Tom Lyons explained, “We have carefully designed the project so that it will have all the appearance of a new school. All new buildings have been designed to link to the existing Infants building, while gently sloping roofs will enable an appropriate human scale to be achieved. We believe the project really maximizes the potential of the site, which has very strict constraints.”

The project is being funded by Northants County Council, whose service providers under their Capital Projects Programme are Lend Lease Projects. It is being built by Marriott Construction, who have offices in Rushden and Nottingham. Marriott Director Peter Hawes said, “We are pleased to be involved in this exciting project at Exeter Primary School and look forward to commencing the works.” The project is due to be completed in January 2009.