Work begins on new school after years of waiting
Carolanne BernardGround has been broken on a Government-funded project to build a new school after years of waiting.
Current buildings used by Skelton Primary School in East Cleveland were described in planning documents as "life-expired and no longer fit for modern day teaching purposes".
The school, on Station Lane, was first announced in 2021 as one of the selected sites in a Department of Education re-building programme.
A two storey T-shaped building to house the school's approximate 630 pupils will be built to the immediate south on the school playing field, with three existing buildings due to be demolished once complete.
Planning permission was granted last year by Redcar and Cleveland Council, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.
A design and access statement said condition surveys had identified issues including cracks within structures, loose and weathered brickwork and "potential roof failures".
One option considered was refurbishment but that was ruled out due to the significant length of such a project, while "extensive" temporary accommodation would also be needed for youngsters in the meantime.
GoogleDiggers moved on to the site to prepare groundworks with more than 4,000 tonnes of soil expected to be excavated over the coming weeks.
A ceremony at the school was attended by Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Luke Myer and local councillor John McCue, who joined headteacher Sarah Walker and pupils.
Myer said: "The school community has waited several years for this project to get moving, so it is great to see diggers on site and work finally beginning."
The new school building is forecast to be completed in the spring of next year.
