Green light for new build in Napton

Members of the school council with headteacher John Brine (third from right) PTA chair Frances Scott-Brown (second right) and vice chair Hannah Slade (first right) accepting the cheque from Ian Southcott, Cemex community affairs manager and a trustee of the Rugby Group Benevloent Fund.

St Lawrence CofE Primary School had to find ten per cent of the cost for the project to go ahead after being funded by the diocese.

This has come principally from a grant of £25,000 from the Rugby Group Benevolent Fund.

St. Lawrence School has been going from strength to strength in recent years with rapid expansion and fuller classes.

As a short-term solution the PTA and school combined funds to erect a small room within the inner courtyard, now known as ‘the Tardis’.

Rachael Pelter, PTA secretary, said: “For this project, we were grateful to receive a contribution of £2,000 from Napton Music Festival and £1,000 from Napton Townlands Charity.

“Essentially this space has been a godsend and is now used continuously in school hours with two days a week devoted to music lessons alone.”

She said longer term, the old Portakabin needed replacing with a more fit-for-purpose permanent structure and stand alone facility.

“It had to be suitable for use both by the school and the wider village community outside school hours,” added Rachael.

“As plans and budgets were conceived, our local diocese agreed to cover the £280,000 budget providing that the school came up with ten per cent of the cost.

“A sub-group of our PTA set to work making grant applications and seeking sponsorship and were eventually rewarded with the generosity of the Rugby Group Benevolent Fund who agreed to donate a fantastic £25,000.”

As well as up-to-date facilities, the new build will offer a fantastic multi-functional 120m² space which can be used both for teaching and as a space for community groups to use.