More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A new school building has finally opened after a year of waiting and children travelling to a temporary site nearly 10 miles away.
Ebbsfleet Green Primary School, in Ebbsfleet Green, celebrated the official re-opening on Saturday, September 25.
Head teacher Kelly Garrett said: "We started benefitting from our amazing new building as we welcomed our pupils at the start of the new school year. The facilities are beautifully designed and provide an endless amount of learning opportunities both inside and out.
"We are part of the Edible Ebbsfleet initiative and cannot wait to start growing vegetables in our allotments which will also be open to the community at weekends. The children will have plenty of experience with cultivation, and also cooking what they harvest in our food tech centre."
While waiting for the building to be built, the children had been travelling to a temporary site at Bligh Primary School in Strood, more than eight miles away, for the past year.
The new, environmentally-friendly school is now open for students and includes state-of-the-art classrooms, large playing fields, a wildlife area and dipping pond and a dance studio.
Pupil Mahi Rai, seven, said: "Our new school is really great, it was so exciting coming back to school and seeing my new classroom. The library is huge and there are loads of places to play. We are going to start a school allotment and grow vegetables. It is brilliant."
At present there are only 90 pupils from nursery to Year 3 with the extra space available to hire for community groups.
Joanne Wilkinson-Tabi, executive head teacher, added: "We firmly believe that by collaborating and partnering with others, we can create ever-better educational experiences and outcomes for our pupils
"We have already forged strong relationships with local businesses and shops, community groups and local artists.
"It is great to be part of such a wonderful new and growing community."
The school's staff and pupils enjoyed a grand opening day hosted by community organisations and businesses including a baby ballers, a selection of market stalls and a drumming group who provided musical performances.
The emergency services also attended bringing a police car and fire engine which children could explore.
The school is part of Maritime Academy Trust, an educational charity, which has other primary schools with nurseries across Kent in Gillingham, Rochester, and Bexley.
