FUTURE students and residents have had a chance to take a look inside the new Lyde Green Community School ahead of its opening in September.
The Olympus Trust, which runs the school, and head teacher Tom Hill welcomed more than 300 people through the doors of the building in Honeysuckle Road on July 14.
The secondary school and primary school next door are being made ready to welcome pupils in September as a £58.3 million building project enters its final stages.
A trust spokesperson said the guests included local community and sports clubs interested in hiring the school’s new facilities, neighbours, local businesses keen to work with the school and many Year 5 learners and their families, who will be choosing a secondary school in the autumn.
The spokesperson said: “The event offered a special chance to explore our impressive new building and facilities before we welcome our first cohort in September.
“Head teacher Tom Hill and his leadership team were pleased to welcome everyone who has shown an interest in the school and its journey within the community.”
Children who will be starting as Year 7 pupils in September have also been able to visit the school.
Visitors to the new buildings have been impressed.
Mr Hill said: “The feedback we’ve had so far has been gushing with praise!”
The secondary school expects to welcome around 150 Year 7 pupils and the primary school – a twin site to the existing Lyde Green Primary School in Willowherb Road – will take 60 Reception pupils.
While it has not had any public tours, the children who will be starting at the primary school, run by CSET, have been able to visit.
In a change to previous plans, the primary school will switch all three Year 6 classes from Willowherb Road to the new building in Honeysuckle Road in September.
Primary school head teacher Tom Hutchings said: “We have done this for a number of reasons, partly to support transition to the secondary school, but also so that the existing Willowherb Road site becomes less crowded.”