Learning 'not compromised' by school rebuild

Paul Watson, chief executive of the trust which runs Buckton Fields Primary, says the rebuilt school will be "bigger and better"

The trust that runs a school being demolished and then rebuilt says it has worked hard to ensure there is no disruption to pupils' learning.

Buckton Fields Primary School in Boughton, near Northampton, opened in 2021 - but was forced to close by the Department for Education (DfE) in August 2023 because of structural safety concerns.

It is hoped the new school will take shape in February and parts of the building will be usable by December 2026.

Paul Watson, chief executive officer of the Preston Hedges Trust, said: "The community has been absolutely brilliant and really supported us and our parents have been terrific."

The demolition of the school building was approved by West Northamptonshire Council in June

Mr Watson said there were some big plans for the new school which would be "even better for our children".

Improvements included an all-weather sports pitch, an updated library and a hall that can be used as a community space.

"It will be greener, more eco-friendly and environmentally friendly as well as a bigger, better school which our children and families really deserve," he said.

The school - pictured in 2023 - opened in 2021

Buckton Fields was one of three UK schools - together with Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Harlow and Haygrove School in Somerset - closed by the DfE because of structural safety concerns.

Despite having to temporarily displace pupils, who have been taught in nearby schools, Mr Watson said "their education hasn't been compromised" and the children have been "super".

"The one worry I had was that we didn't let down our families and our children throughout this," he said.

Support from families and the "resilience" of the staff had helped maintain the school's morale.

Mr Watson said everybody was looking forward to "coming home" and celebrating the completion of the new school.

"The building is really important but actually, what makes the school is the people inside it," he said.