A Royal Opening for Fairmead School
Her Royal Highness (HRH) the Princess Royal recently officially opened the Sycamore Building at the Southern Construction Framework procured, Fairmead School in Yeovil.
HRH had the opportunity to tour the first-class facilities being enjoyed by students, staff and the community.
The new school building was made possible by an investment of £6.85m by Somerset County Council. ISG handed the project over in the summer holiday period. The project saw ISG construct a two-storey, 12 classroom block, replacing six classrooms and creating a further six classrooms – suitable for pupils with low and higher band special educational needs – connected to the existing school building. The team also delivered a new state-of-the-art sports facility.
Photo credit: Somerset County Council
Paul Watkins, Account Director, Construction South, said
“We’re delighted to have handed over Fairmead school in the summer months and in time for the 2021/2022 academic year. Creating inspiring spaces for learning is of vital importance, and the new Sycamore Building is testament to this. The new two-storey, 12 classroom block has seen us add a much needed six classrooms to increase the learning space for the school’s SEN pupils with the additional space allowing for a growth in pupil admissions going forward. These facilities will prove to be of major benefit to the pupils, staff and also the local community”.
As part of the guided tour, HRH entered live lessons to see students learning science, mathematics and life skills. The Princess Royal was also given a demonstration of the Immersive Experience Room, which provides students with dynamic sensory and learning experiences. With the touch of a button, HRH and students were transported from riding horseback to outer space.
Tracy Felstead, Headteacher of Fairmead School, said:
“Her Royal Highness’s visit has been the highlight of our school year. I could not think of a more fitting way to mark the start of this exciting new era for our school and our community. We are all so delighted with the new modern, bright and calm new learning environments that this project has created.”
Fairmead School caters for children and young people aged between four and 19 with moderate learning difficulties and Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The new classrooms allow for a 40% growth in pupil admissions from 100 to 140.
Cllr Frances Nicholson, Lead Member for Children’s Services at Somerset County Council, said:
“It is exciting to see all the changes at Fairmead School. The new building is a valuable facility and will really support Somerset’s children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families.”
This article was originally published by Somerset County Council. You can read the full article here
