Keys for the new Farley Hill Primary School site in Arborfield Green, designed by HLM Architects working for Wokingham Borough Council, have been handed over to its headteacher, Emma Clarke.
“This school has been designed to meet the needs of pupils and teachers in the 21st century, providing a safe and nurturing space that allows them to thrive and excel.”
The new 420-place school, part of the Arborfield Garrison major development, has now opened its doors to staff and hundreds of pupils after construction completed. It is one of two primary schools being built in the area, with the second coming as part of a later construction phase.
The school was built by modular construction specialists Reds10 in stages, with modules being constructed at their Yorkshire factory before being transported to site and lifted into place. Seventy per cent of the building work was completed using offsite methods of construction, as part of the council’s goal of making Wokingham a carbon neutral borough by 2030.
The school includes modern, state-of-the-art classrooms, specialist areas for design and food technology, PE and dance, and provides the latest digital teaching tools such as interactive teaching screens and sound systems.
It also features community facilities such as a 1* FIFA football pitch for use outside of school hours, a nursery, and is designed to facilitate future expansion.
Arborfield Green’s new school’s facilities are funded through developer contributions as part of the four major new communities at Arborfield, Shinfield and North and South Wokingham, and includes an investment of £98 million in new schools.
Claire Wakelin, Studio Director at HLM Architects, said: “We are pleased to witness the opening of this new, modern facility and watch as the community is able to reap the benefits. This school has been designed to meet the needs of pupils and teachers in the 21st century, providing a safe and nurturing space that allows them to thrive and excel. Sustainability has also been a key driver in the design, resulting in a building that meets the highest standards for learning environments.”
Emma Clarke, headteacher at Farley Hill Primary School, said: “We are delighted with our new school building and the excellent facilities. Farley Hill school will continue to provide an excellent education and help the children to develop academically and as people. We look forward to being part of the Arborfield Green community.”
Michael Ruddick, Director at Reds10, said: “We are delighted to be working with Wokingham Borough Council again, this time on the new Farley Hill Primary School building. We look forward to seeing the state-of-the-art school and football pitch being used by the local community.”
