Exciting times lie ahead for young children on the Waterloo Estate as at the beginning of November they will move into a new school building.

The keys to the new two-storey Hillbourne Primary School have now been officially handed over by the contractor.

As part of BCP Council’s plans to develop the site, the new school replaces the existing school buildings on the site at Kitchener Crescent. In turn, the location of the new school building means that surplus land to the north and south will be available for the development of new homes once the existing buildings have been demolished in the second phase of the project.

The demolition of the existing buildings will facilitate the completion of the external areas and all works will be complete in April next year.

The new school includes the following facilities: A modern building with 14 classrooms, a practical room and learning resource centre; administration block; large hall with servery; a pre-school with a dedicated play area; two multi-use games areas and outdoor play areas; purpose-built sports pitch; a secure staff car park and solar panels, mechanical ventilation in all classrooms, sprinkler system and intelligent lighting.

Cllr Nicola Greene, portfolio holder for COVID Resilience, Schools and Skills, BCP Council, said: “I’m delighted that we have successfully developed a new fit-for-purpose building for the Waterloo community. It will benefit and support our young people to receive a high-quality education in a fantastic environment, giving them the best opportunities to grow and flourish.”

Helen Roderick, headteacher at Hillbourne Primary, said: “Our new school building allows all of our pupils and staff to work together for the first time. We are very excited about this. We are all thrilled to be working in such a beautiful building. Having drinkable water, windows that open and shut, a heating system that will keep us all at the right temperature and ‘intelligent’ lighting is going to make learning so much easier.

“We have really enjoyed watching our new building being constructed and are very grateful to the efforts of all the people who have worked so hard to make it possible.”

Cllr Judes Butt, ward councillor said: “Over 20 years ago we promised a new school for our children. Together with my previous ward councillors, Burden and Rampton, the school, parents and the whole community, even after so many set-backs over the years, we never gave up and now are rewarded with our ‘jewel in the crown’, a purpose built home of learning, both for academic and life-long skills. Huge thanks to all involved.”