Locks Heath Junior School ready for the next generation

Locks Heath Junior School is celebrating the completion of brand new extension of the school, to improve the school environment.

Councillor Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Education, cut the ribbon to formally open the new facilities and was joined by the Mayor of Fareham, Councillor Mike Ford, at the official opening of the school extension on Friday 13 November.

Cllr Edgar said: “I was honoured to officially open the new extension at Locks Heath Junior School and see first-hand how the County Council’s multi-million investment programme in schools is making a difference. The high standard and thoughtful design of these new facilities are a testament to the hard work of the school community and County Council staff in both Children’s Services and Property Services.

“Hampshire has a strong track record of planning and providing high quality teaching and learning spaces for pupils and their teachers. We want all children to have the best possible educational environment facilities in which to enjoy their learning.”

The £2 million project, funded by Hampshire County Council, has created four new classrooms, a learning hub, a multi-use teaching space, new toilet facilities and an external hard play area. Two existing classrooms and a resources space have also been refurbished.

Head Teacher, Kevin Parfoot, said:“This project has been a real team effort and has replaced three very old temporary classrooms that were less than ideal as a space to learn. We have had marvellous support from the whole school community and these new buildings will ensure our school is fit for purpose for many years to come.”

Additionally, a time capsule was buried close to the Centenary Stone sculpture, erected on the school grounds in 2007, to mark 100 years of the school. At that time a time capsule was buried but this was unearthed during the school improvement building works. A new time capsule was buried as part of the celebrations and created to commemorate the new era in the school’s history.

Prior to the event, ex- and current pupils and members of the Locks Heath community had the opportunity to buy a brick with their name etched in to it, to celebrate their time at the Warsash Road based school. More than 300 bricks have been permanently laid around the Centenary Stone.