A £12m pound project to expand the oldest primary school in Bicester has gotten underway.

St Edburg’s CE Primary School in Kingsmere is working to increase pupil places by 50 per cent.

Due to a significant increase in housing around Kingsmere in recent years, the number of students attending the school has increased from 160 in January 2016 to 420 in September 2022.

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This has meant that many of the form entries have been oversubscribed.

Oxford Mail: Breaking ground with the help of St Edburg’s CE Primary School pupils

The school’s expansion- located on a nearby satellite site- is set to house the nursery, reception, and key stage one classes.

The construction will be purpose built and net-zero in operation.

To make the building net-zero regulated, the design incorporates numerous sustainability elements to help lower running costs and future-proof it.

It will feature air source heat pumps, a PV array on the roof and seven electric vehicle charging points.

The work is being carried out by national contractor Willmott Dixon who built the original school back in 2016 when it relocated from its historic building behind St Edburg’s Church in Bicester.

Andy Terrey, headteacher at St Edburg’s CE Primary School, said: “With demand growing for places at the school, we knew we needed to expand our facilities.

“By constructing a purpose-built satellite school, we have the opportunity to create a brand-new building that is ideal for the needs of younger children – including areas such as dedicated external play areas, which are key for outside learning and development.

“We’re also able to meet the needs of local families head on, with new housing still underway in local community.

“I’m therefore really looking forward to seeing the works get underway and to be working with Willmott Dixon again, following the team’s fantastic work on our current school.”

Oxford Mail:

Works are expected to be completed in June 2024, ready for the 2024/2025 school year.

Michelle Cotterill, director at Willmott Dixon, said: “Being back on site at St Edburg’s School and helping to expand their offering is really exciting.

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“The school is the oldest in Bicester, but it continues to move with the times – modernising and expanding its facilities to offer the very best for pupils, so we’re really pleased to be back.

“We’re also looking forward to getting to know the local community again.

“Throughout the project, our team will be engaging with local educational institutions to provide CV advice, mock interviews, site tours and work experience opportunities.

“We are also looking to run our award-winning enrichment program that teaches secondary school students about the construction industry, and the careers available, and provides them with a Bronze Industrial Cadets certificate.”