TEACHERS have visited a building development which will soon house a multi-million pound school in Colchester.

The Trinity School, which is currently using facilities run by the Gilberd School, is due to move into its new site in September this year with an initial intake of 180 pupils.

On Monday, staff at the Trinity School took a tour of the school, which is currently being built on the Chesterwell development in Mile End.

The construction of the new site has endured a series of delays, including its previous building contractor Laing O’Rourke pulled out of the project.


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Now, however, there is optimism amongst staff, parents, and students as the new school building, which is now being constructed by Bowmer and Kirkland, begins to take shape.

Monday’s staff visit, though not the first for Trinity headteacher Mark Orrin, gave staff members at the school the chance to look at the environment they will be teaching in from September later this year.

He said: “I’m on-site with Bowmer Kirkland at least once per month and we get updates on how the work is progressing.

Gazette: Together – staff visited the site in the Chesterwell development for the first time on MondayTogether – staff visited the site in the Chesterwell development for the first time on Monday (Image: Trinity School)

“Monday was the first time we could take our current staff team to have a look around [and] we managed to have a walk around most of the buildings.

“The superstructure is now in place, so staff could see all three floors – it was very exciting and staff have been working really hard to make sure students are getting the education on-site with the Gilberd School.”

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Mr Orrin added there is an air of anticipation amongst staff and students as the move-in date approaches.

The official hand-over date for the new building is currently set at Monday, September 4.

Gazette: Innards – the school is less than six months away from openingInnards – the school is less than six months away from opening (Image: Trinity School)

“The overriding feeling is one of enthusiasm, really – it’s been fantastic and it’s a very positive experience being on the school site.

“Having our own space and being within our own local community is something the staff are really looking forward to – seeing it for the first time really helps to make that vision a bit more concrete."

It is hoped by 2027, Trinity School will have a full enrolment of 900 students on the new site.