School joy as revamp is complete

Celebrations have been under way this week as a newly revamped Stafford school held its official reopening ceremony.

St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, in Garden Street, has undergone a £1.7 million transformation.

Yesterday, staff and schoolchildren gathered to watch Staffordshire County Council deputy leader Councillor Robert Simpson unveil a commemorative plaque.

Teachers and pupils had to move to the Chetwynd Centre in Newport Road in 2006 to allow the refurbishment work to start on their 19th century school.

Work took more than a year and the move back into the building started last November.

The new facilities include modernised rooms, three extra classrooms, a new technology suite and library.

Councillor Simpson said: “The St Paul’s school design has been developed so that the magnificent historic Victorian features have been kept, whilst at the same time the interior has become a modern, safe and secure place for the children to learn.”

Head Nick Bickley said: “The last seven months since we moved into our new building have been both challenging and rewarding.

“During this time the school has grown. We are extremely proud of how the school has developed.”