York school celebrates project start with ground breaking ceremony

Children and staff at Hempland Primary School in York have celebrated the start of construction on their brand new building with a ground breaking ceremony.

Plans to construct the new two-storey building for the school in Whitby Avenue were unanimously approved by City of York Council’s planning committee last November, and works to ready the site for construction have been taking place since the new year.

Headteacher, Abbie Innes, said: “Everyone is really excited for the work on our new school to officially start. We’re looking forward to seeing the new building take shape in the weeks and months ahead and the many opportunities it will provide for our pupils and staff moving forward.”

Hempland successfully achieved a place on the government’s School Rebuilding Programme, which carries out major rebuilding and refurbishment projects in schools and colleges across England. The school’s current building has reached the end of its functional life and will be completely rebuilt under the Department for Education (DfE) led programme.

The school is part of Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust and both the school and the trust have been working closely with the DfE and with main contractor ISG on the plans for the new building.

The new school is designed to be net carbon zero in operation and will be built to the latest construction standards. It will include a main hall, kitchen, library, staff room and reception area, along with classrooms, cloakrooms, toilets and offices.

The new building is being constructed behind the current school avoiding the need for any temporary accommodation during construction. Once the new school has opened, the old building will be demolished to make way for an Early Years play area and landscaping.

Work on the project is due to complete by autumn 2025.