Winterstoke Hundred Academy pupils marked the start of the new school year with a special event to celebrate the award-winning facilities at their recently opened school.
The striking new school building, located in Locking Parklands, was delivered by North Somerset Council, working in partnership with project contractors, Kier, and the CLF.
It first opened its doors to students back in January, with its formal opening reserved for the new school year in September.
The event saw pupils lead tours around the facilities, showcasing modern classrooms and highlighting their favourite features to guests. Afterwards, they joined a tree planting ceremony as an apple tree was handed over to the school, signifying growth for the future and the fruits of investment in education.
Student Grace Hart, Year 11, said: “The new building is bigger, brighter and a great space to learn. It’s also quiet, which makes it easier to concentrate – it’s the perfect environment to be in and I’m very proud to be here.”
The expansion of Winterstoke Hundred – which now utilises its original site at Beaufighter Road for students in Years 12 and 13, as well as a temporary home for Lime Hills Academy – has been designed to accommodate up to 900 pupils. It will help to serve the nearby local communities by increasing school capacity in the area as overall demand requires.
The expansion was also designed to achieve net zero carbon in operation, aiming for a much-sought BREEAM ‘excellent’ rating for energy efficiency. The building includes sustainable features that classrooms keep cool in summer and warm in winter, as well as solar panels that generate energy for the school and the national grid.
Winterstoke Hundred Principal Matt Randle said: “It is a privilege to be working in our new purpose-built school buildings.
“The bright, open and vibrant design provides for excellent eco credentials in line with the school’s commitment to environmental sustainability alongside fantastic specialist spaces and classrooms.
“Our school is designed to grow with increasing demand from our local community as we aim to deliver a responsive curriculum that meets the needs of students and employers.
“We are excited to see the way our school is becoming a real hub for the residents of Weston-super-Mare.”
