St Bede Primary School opens new Centenary Extension (From This is Hampshire)

St Bede Primary School opens new Centenary Extension

11:35am Thursday 4th October 2012 in News By Wesley Rock

CENTENARY celebrations for St Bede Primary School reached their climax with the opening of a new extension.

The Centenary Extension will provide much-needed classroom space for the over-stretched primary school.

At the opening on Thursday (September 27), chairman of the school governors, Dominic Hiscock, told the children present: “Things like these buildings don't just happen. Someone has to make decisions and so we have a lot of people to thank for this.”

The new class rooms were a hit with pupils, who took turns at the ceremony to share what they liked best about the building - 'the view' and 'the colour of the toilets' being recurring themes.

Mrs Sabine Bohnacker-Bruce, whose daughter Helena is in year five, said: “It's quite a change. When my eldest started there were 45 in each year group and now there are 60. So it's just great to have the space for them. The school have had to work very hard to make space for the children.”

Deputy headteacher David Metcalfe read out the list of contents for a time capsule that would be stored away for the next hundred years. Among the items were pictures of the head boy and head girl, a copy of the Hampshire Chronicle and a cast of headteacher Louise Fitzpatrick's handprint. Proceedings culminated in the cutting of the ribbon by Mr Hiscock and a blessing of from Father Cliff Bannister. Louise Fitzpatrick described the occasion as “a very special moment”.

The Hampshire Chronicle reported in July last year that plans to expand the intake at St Bede had caused controversy. Despite the creation of 15 extra reception places, some youngsters were still refused places.

There will be an open day on Saturday, September 29, when visitors can take a tour of the whole school and visit the centenary exhibition.