Work Starts On First Sherford Primary School
13 Oct 2017

Devon County Council to open applications from November 2017

Construction work has now started on Sherford’s first primary school, Sherford Vale, marking a major milestone in the creation of Plymouth and South Hams new town.

Previously anticipated as a temporary school, the Sherford Consortium has been able to accelerate plans of a permanent structure, with work now starting on the main school building. Leading UK construction Group, Morgan Sindall, has been appointed to lead the school’s construction.

Sherford residents, as well as those behind the school’s construction, including the Sherford Consortium and local councillors from Devon County, Plymouth City and South Hams District Councils, met onsite to celebrate this momentous occasion.

Set in the heart of the new town, and representing a £6m plus investment into the community infrastructure, the new school is being funded and constructed by the Sherford Consortium - the partnership of award-winning homebuilders, Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Taylor Wimpey – with £1m also being pledged towards its creation by Devon County Council.

420 primary places will be available to children between the ages of 2-11 at Sherford Vale, and is the first of three planned primary schools at the new town. The new school will be sponsored and run by the Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) which has a proven track record in education excellence locally, also running neighbouring Ivybridge Community College.

Applications will be open on the Devon County Council website from November 2017, with the school expected to open its doors by September 2018.

Devon County Council's Cabinet member for schools, James McInnes, said: "We often hear of big housing developments being built with no community facilities. We think it is vital that the facilities are developed as early as possible alongside the new homes so that people can feel they are part of the community from the very start.

Devon County Council is putting its money where its mouth is and providing £1 million towards the new school. And it won't just be for the youngest residents of Sherford. We are very keen that the extensive facilities that will be available for the pupils will also be open to the wider community so everyone can feel they have a stake in the new school as it grows and develops."

Mrs Tipping, the first Head Teacher for Sherford Vale, who has already been appointed to run the primary school on behalf of WeST, who will be sponsoring the school said: “I am delighted to be the Headteacher of Sherford Vale School and I am excited to be working with the governing board, to build an outstanding school at the heart of the new community.

“Our vision is for academic excellence and success for all children delivered through an exciting curriculum. We want children to ask questions and find solutions; make full use of the great outdoors including physical and sporting opportunities and to grow into confident young people in the community.

“If you would like to get involved in this exciting journey or would like to discuss admission for your child, please visit the school website for more information. I look forward to hearing from you. Sherfordvaleschool.co.uk”.

Cllr Michael Hicks, South Hams District Council’s Lead Member for the new town of Sherford said: “I am very pleased that the start of work on the school has begun. When the masterplan for Sherford was first developed and eventually granted planning permission, the need for the school to be built early was a top priority for us.

“We have always believed that the building of the school along with other community facilities would be fundamental to the development of the town, promoting Sherford from a collection of new houses to a proper community.”

Councillor Terri Beer, Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet member for Children and Young People said: “The Sherford development provides much-needed new homes and all the partners involved in this new town have been very keen to make sure that there is the right infrastructure – and that includes schools – to create great communities and great places to live.

“Schools should be at the heart of their communities, so I am delighted to see work get started on this one.”

We have always believed that the building of the school along with other community facilities would be fundamental to the development of the town, promoting Sherford from a collection of new houses to a proper community.”

Paul Boileau, Sherford Consortium said: “This is a significant milestone for the development, with the first primary school set to become the hub of the new community. We are extremely proud to have reached this stage and with the first residents now settling in to life at Sherford, it will be an ideal location for families looking for a new home, near excellent local schooling. Sherford Vale will have its own unique identity, and is one of four schools set to open over the next decade at the new town, including a secondary school. Pupils and families will have access to a range of facilities, including parks, a sports centre and playing fields – all within walking distance of their homes.”

Nigel Whelan, Area Manager, Morgan Sindall, said: “We’re extremely pleased to have been appointed to deliver the first new primary school in Sherford, creating a new, state-of-the-art learning and teaching space.

Morgan Sindall is well versed in delivering education projects, which are integral parts of their communities and we look forward to working closely with the consortium, students and staff as this very exciting project progresses.”

For more information about Sherford visit www.sherford.org

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