Staff and pupils of Shap Endowed Church of England Primary School had much to celebrate when the newly completed building was officially opened by the Right Revd Graham Dow, Bishop of Carlisle.
Bishop Dow met the children in the school hall, and then with the assistance of pupil Emily Slack, who is chairman of the school council, untied a symbolic ribbon to officially open the building. Friends and supporters of the school were then invited to inspect the building and enjoy a buffet lunch.
The building is in response to rising numbers at the school, but has also been an opportunity to provide extra facilities and improve access.
School Headteacher Lois Whittaker said: “A rising roll is a wonderful problem to have and we are very excited by the new opportunities that the extra room will provide. The new reception and office are far more welcoming than before. We now have easy access for the disabled and a disabled toilet and changing area. Our new community classroom, supported by Cumbria Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund and the parish council as well as the diocese, is light and roomy with a state-of-the-art cookery area, a withdrawal room for group teaching and excellent ICT equipment.”
“We plan to work closely with our community development centre to make this a room for the whole community, starting with a cookery club involving senior members of the village after half term,” added Mrs Whittaker.
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