9:26am Tuesday 16th September 2008
BUILDING work has officially started on the new Queen Boudica Primary School in north Colchester.
John Baker, chairman of the temporary governing body, cut the first sod of earth at the site in Turner Road, Mile End, yesterday.
The building schedule is tight – with plans to open the school to pupils in September 2009 – but Mr Baker said he is confident the school will open on time.
He said: “We’re so pleased to see work finally start on the new school.
“The schedule for building is tight but I was at a planning meeting at County Hall recently, involving all the developers and managers, and I felt very happy with all the arrangements.
“It’s all planned out to the last day and we’re hoping for phased opening so the headteacher and staff can get in early to start work.
“The children won’t be able to come in until September when it officially opens.”
He added the governing body would start interviewing for the headteacher position on Monday and has a shortlist of six people for the job.
He said: “This job is the chance of a lifetime because they will be in the school right from the start and can influence where things go.
“It will be a challenge but all the people on the list are very experienced.
“They will officially be employed from January but we’re hoping to appoint on Monday and they can be involved from then.”
County councillor Mick Page, chairman of the East Area Forum, said: “I am thrilled we are at the stage where the contractors can get going on the site.
“When the project is completed, the local community will have a state-of-the-art school that is both environmentally-friendly and aesthetically striking.”
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