Construction is now under way for the new primary school facility at Kingsmere in Bicester, which will allow St Edburg’s Church of England Primary School to double in size. Perfectly placed for both the existing community and the new resident’s at Kingsmere, the new state of the art premises is expected to open in early 2016.

The new primary school has been funded by Countryside, Oxfordshire County Council and the Diocese of Oxford which governs the school, with land for the site provided by Countryside. As the oldest and only Church of England primary school in Bicester, St Edburg’s will move from its current site in Cemetery Road to the new expanded facility at Kingsmere, the exciting new village development being created by Countryside on the outskirts of Bicester. This will allow the school to move to a two-form intake doubling the number of children it can admit, and as well as providing a nursery.

Andrew Carrington, Director of Countryside Properties (Bicester) Ltd, said: “It is exciting to see the construction of the new primary school forging ahead at Kingsmere, especially because schools are one of the key building blocks in creating a successful new community. We look forward to the school opening early next year.”

Cabinet Member for Children, Education and Families for Oxfordshire County Council, Councillor Melinda Tilleysaid: “The new facility for St Edburg’s at Kingsmere will provide a high quality learning environment ideally suited to meet the needs of the modern curriculum. Demand for school places in Bicester is only going to rise as the town grows, so we are pleased that with the help of Countryside, we are able to increase the number of children that can be accommodated.”

St Edburg’s Church of England Primary School

Mrs Kunzer, Acting Head of St Edburg’s School said, “The whole community of pupils, staff and parents are very excited about the move and are looking forward to being in a fantastic new building!”

Designed by Acanthus Clews Architects, the new primary school building aims to encourage interactive and personal learning. It will feature traditional classrooms as well as an open plan “heart space” encouraging pupils to engage in a range of learning activities. The circular studio hub at the entrance to the school will provide a multi-function space for both school and wider community use. Outdoor learning spaces are central to the design and these include a multi-use games area, sensory garden, nursery play area, sports pitches, terraced seating area, landscaped mound and wildlife zone.

The new primary school is located adjacent to the village centre at Kingsmere enabling visitors to the school to use the village centre car parking area. It is part of the masterplan for Kingsmere, which also includes building an additional new primary school and secondary school.

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