Derbyshire: Work starts on £8.5m primary school rebuild

Bramley Vale Primary School was built in the 1930s but is now getting an £8.5m rebuild

A primary school in Derbyshire is to be transformed with an £8.5m rebuild.

The programme of work at Bramley Vale Primary School has been called one of the biggest primary school building projects ever in the county.

It will add five full-size classrooms, a teaching room also used as an after-school space, a library, new toilets, a kitchen and an office.

The Chesterfield school, built in the 1930s, will hold about 175 pupils when the work is completed.

Head teacher Rob Rumsby said: "The whole school community, in the widest sense, is looking forward to seeing the completion of the partial school rebuild.

"Bramley Vale Primary School had been earmarked for needing a total or partial rebuild many years ago.

"I was pleased when joining the school in January 2021 that the governing body and I were given the opportunity by Derbyshire County Council and Concertus to review and discuss the designs."

The rebuild of the school has begun

Pupils are to be taught in temporary classrooms while the work, which will also include a new heating system and improvements to the school grounds, is being carried out.

Council cabinet member for education, Alex Dale, said: "This is one of the biggest primary school building projects we have ever been involved in, and we're very pleased to be working in partnership on this exciting multi-million pound project making the best use of our resources to provide a high-quality modern school for local children and for use by the wider community.

"Bramley Vale Primary School at the very heart of its small community and this scheme will provide buildings that meet modern standards and enhance the education of its pupils for generations to come."