Schoolchildren in County Durham have shown off their new £40m state-of-the-art learning environment to council leaders.
Children at Belmont Community School and Belmont Church of England Primary School welcomed Cabinet members from Durham County Council for the official opening of their modern new shared campus - which has been funded by the local authority.
Children from both schools were joined by Diocesan Director of Education David Akers, council Leader Cllr Amanda Hopgood and Cabinet member for children and young people’s services, Cllr Ted Henderson, for the unveiling of their new facilities.
In all, the new builds will cater for more than 1,200 children and young people and represent County Durham’s first low carbon school sites, with each equipped with photovoltaic solar panels and air-source heat pumps.
The Belmont project is expected to be worth more than £8m in ‘social value’ to County Durham, through a range of activity including more than a thousand hours supporting young people into work and organising career sessions, as well as hundreds of apprenticeship weeks.
David Akers, said: “The development of the Belmont Campus is a fantastic opportunity to see the vision of Belmont Church of England Primary School of ‘Flourishing Together’ being realised. The state-of-the-art facilities will benefit the children for many years to come. This outstanding learning environment, coupled with the love and compassion that permeates through the relationships that exist on this campus will ensure that children truly have the opportunity to live life in all its fullness.”
Kirsty Harrison-Brown, headteacher of Belmont Church of England Primary School, said: "The new campus has provided us with a fantastic opportunity to bring together our nursery and primary children in one state-of-the-art building. This will have a transformational impact on the lives of our young people and the community. We are very much looking forward to the future and to the wonderful prospects this will provide for our Belmont family and community.”
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council, said: “Educating our children and giving them the best possible grounding for their future is of utmost importance to us.”
The new Belmont Community School has capacity for 900 pupils, while the primary school can accommodate up to 315 pupils plus early years provision – in a single site for the first time.
The new Belmont Sports Centre which adjoins the community school site includes cricket facilities co-funded by the England and Wales Cricket Board. New nets will be used not just by schoolchildren but also by Durham County Cricket Club for its 11 to 15 youth development programmes.
The campus also boasts a fitness gym and dance studio and performance facilities including music rooms, hi-tech drama studio and theatre hall, co-funded by The Wolfson Foundation.
Outdoor multi-use games areas, co-funded by The Football Foundation, that the local community will also be able to use, including a 3G pitch, will follow. So too will an outdoor learning space and Forest School area.
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With thanks to Durham County Council for photographs and editorial.
Photo 1: The ribbon cutting at Belmont Community School.
Photo 2: Diocesan Director of Education David Akers joins councillors and primary children in the library at Belmont Church of England Primary School
Photo 3: Cllrs Hopgood and Henderson at Belmont Church of England Primary School