A refurbished primary school in Southmead is celebrating a multi-million-pound renovation.
E-ACT Badock’s Wood Academy has refurbished one of the buildings on its site while giving up another to allow Elmfield School for Deaf Children to be based there.
The change came after Badock’s Wood had spare space as a school, whilst Elmfield School was looking for a new permanent home.
The renovation of Badock’s Wood was funded by Bristol City Council and the E-ACT multiacademy trust. It has provided the school with a new kitchen, a new nursery, new office areas, a new library with over 2000 new books, as well as a new reception class and nursery with a refurbished early years outdoor area.
The nursery, which already has nearly 20 children enrolled, will be open to children ages three and up.
The rest of the school has also had a facelift, with all new furniture and flooring and every room repainted as well as acoustic panelling in each classroom to reduce noise.
Pupils at the school have been fully involved with the project, helping to design the playground’s new climbing frame as part of a project with Oxford University. The school’s entryway has also been changed after feedback from pupils to allow for a wider entry area for children to socialise and be with their families.
Pupils were polled and surveyed throughout the renovation on what they’d like to see, with the new playground markings including sensory circuits, phonics games and maths games after their feedback.
The completion of the renovation has also allowed the school to reopen its community hub, which offers courses for parents in a wide array of topics including cooking, parenting, and academic courses.
Elmfield School for Deaf Children will move into its new building next year after it is renovated.
The new look was marked with a day of activities including music, face painting, a full barbecue, football and craft activities.
Headteacher Gemma Hewson said:“Our pupils deserve the absolute best, and our new school building will allow us to deliver exactly that.
Elmfield headteacher Kate Persaud, said: “Elmfield are so pleased that the first part of the project is complete and that Badocks Wood can start to enjoy their new facilities. We look forward to joining them soon and further developing the relationship between the two schools.