IMPROVEMENTS costing £200,000 have begun at a newly created primary school, with work on a new cookery classroom for pupils.

The programme of internal alterations at Dunmore Primary School, Abingdon, will include creating a new kitchen area and a food preparation space for children.

The work will also improve the entrance area of the site, which opened as a new primary school in the buildings formerly used by Dunmore Infant and Dunmore Junior Schools, in January 2008.

For the first time, there will be a direct link between the two school buildings. At the moment staff and pupils have to walk outside to move between classes.

The project has been funded by Oxfordshire County Council. Headteacher Bob Pattenden said the school had gone from strength to strength since it opened 15 months ago.

Its recent Ofsted inspection report highlighted high standards, excellent links and partnerships with outside agencies. The school’s good leadership and capacity to develop further were also singled out.

Mr Pattenden said: “Having a corridor between our upper and lower schools may seem like a minor change, but it will have a major impact.

It will improve the learning environment for the children and facilitate communication between staff.”

Dunmore Primary School is also home to the new North Abingdon Children’s Centre, offering a range of services for children aged from birth to five and their families.

Janet Tomlinson, county director for children, young people and families, said: “This project is a great example of how a relatively small programme of improvements can make a real difference to a school.”

hcover@oxfordmail.co.uk