Special Guests Help Mark Official Opening Of Primary Academy’s New £4m School Building

An official opening ceremony has taken place at a local primary academy to mark the opening of its new £4m school building.

Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate, in Wakefield, began work on the new building in October 2018. Not only does the new school building contain state of the art classrooms but also sporting, computing and design facilities enabling the academy to continue to deliver a rich and vibrant curriculum.

The £4 million build was funded solely by the primary academy’s sponsor, Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT).

Special guests were present at the opening ceremony alongside the Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor Charlie Keith. The Mayor was joined by members of the OGAT Board, including CEO Martyn Oliver, and Leading Yorkshire poet and storyteller, Conrad Burdekin. 

The Mayor of the Wakefield Metropolitan District, Councillor Charlie Keith, said: “It was a privilege to attend the official opening ceremony of the new school building at Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate. The children were a delight to talk to and they make the superb building become a school and part of the community.”

Martyn Oliver, Chief Executive of OGAT, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor and Mayoress, along with other local friends of the academy to OPA Kirkhamgate as we marked the official opening of the tremendous new school building.

“OPA Kirkhamgate is an outstanding school, a leader in its field, and these facilities are fitting of this status. It is a building that aids and enables staff at the primary academy to fully support children in their effort to fulfil their potential.  It is a testament to the outstanding governance provided by our Board and school governors that the trust has secured the entire £4m investment to deliver this building from its own funds. This is especially noteworthy, given the well-publicised funding constraints within education currently.”

As part of the official opening ceremony of the primary academy’s new school building, the special guests were treated to a performance by the choir, a poetry reading and were given a history of the primary academy by three current year 6 children.

The three children informed the audience that the first school to be built on the current grounds was done so in 1908, prior to the building of Kirkhamgate Junior and Infant School, the predecessor to Outwood Primary Academy Kirkhamgate.

Gemma Brindle, whose children are in Year 3 and Year 6 at the primary academy, said of the new building: “The new school building is amazing! It is very spacious, fantastic classroom sizes and amazing facilities. The children were so proud to show it off. Well done Outwood Academy Kirkhamgate.”

Lee Wilson, Chief Executive Principal of Outwood Primary schools, added: “Now complete, the new school building will provide an excellent setting for all our dedicated colleagues to continue the outstanding work they do in putting children first, raising standards and transforming lives.”

The primary academy, which previously was filled to its capacity in its previous building with the 195 children on its books, is rated Outstanding by Ofsted and is a National Teaching School, as part of the Outwood Institute of Education multi-teaching school alliance.