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- Rishi Sunak breaks ground for new Church of England Primary School
The first ground was broken for Northallerton’s brand-new Oakbridge Church of England Primary School on the 18th July by local MP and Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak.
Due to open for Reception-year children in September 2024, Oakbridge CE Primary School will serve a district on the north side of Northallerton where housing growth is expected to increase the population. The school will expand to its full capacity over seven years.
Following a competitive process, which attracted interest from several trusts, Dales Academies Trust was selected as the sponsor for the school. Academy leaders have promised that the new school will be a “flagship of excellence”.
Damian Chubb, Chief Executive of Dales Academy Trust, said: “The vision for the school, which is open to those of all faiths as well as those of none, is to grow compassionate and courageous learners and through this, build successful futures.
“We very much look forward to the next stage of our school’s journey, which will be to further develop relationships with the local community.”
The site was acquired through a planning condition agreed with
a housebuilder developing land nearby; Oakbridge CE Primary School
itself will benefit from investment of more than £7 million when
complete.
Joe Booth, business development director at Hobson and Porter,
which has been awarded the contract to build the school, said:
“Starting work on this new school is an exciting moment for everyone
involved with this project.
“There’s no doubt that once it’s complete, this school will become a hugely valuable part of the local community.”
Richmond
MP Rishi Sunak said, “It was great to see work under way on a very
important multi-million-pound investment in education in Northallerton.
“This
is a vital element of the North Northallerton development project, part
of making sure the new housing has the appropriate infrastructure in
place to support the families that will be moving here."
The
school’s location is close to the new link road which spans the site
earmarked for housing, ensuring access for pupils, staff and other
members of the public is convenient.
Nikkie Godbold, director of
primary for Dales Academies Trust and executive headteacher of the new
school, said: “We considered at length the naming of the school.
Ultimately, we were inspired by an oak tree in the vicinity of the
development and the new bridge at the other end of the road on which the
school is situated.”
- Pictured
left to right: Managing Director of Hobson and Porter, Richard Hunter;
North Yorkshire Council leader Cllr Carl Les; North Yorkshire Council's
Executive Member for Education, Learning and Skills, Cllr Annabel
Wilkinson; Chair of Dales Academies Trust and Bishop of Whitby, the Rt
Revd Paul Ferguson; Chief Executive Officer of the Dales Academies
Trust, Damian Chubb; Richmond MP and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak;
Director of Primary and Executive Headteacher for Oakbridge C of E
Primary School, Nikkie Godbold; North Yorkshire Council’s Corporate
Director of Children and Young People’s Service, Stuart Carlton.