PUPILS will start at a new primary school in September...even though the new £6.5million site will not be ready to open until mid-October

Essex County Council has received a funding notification from the Department of Education to say Lakelands Primary School will open at the start of the next academic year even though the building is unlikely to be finished.

New pupils will use parts of Stanway Fiveways Primary School until the building is ready to open - likely to be in mid-October.

Building began at the £6.5 million school in October last year but was halted by the coronavirus lockdown.

Construction has now started again but it will not be ready for September.

Essex County Council education boss Ray Gooding said: “We have heard of some new schools across the country that have been delayed for a year because of the Covid-19 lockdown, but this funding means this much-needed school can recruit for September 2020.

“We have an excellent track record of investment in new school places, including spending about £53m on new places in 2020/21.

“We recognise that more investment is needed to keep pace with the population growth in Essex and we plan to spend a further £146m on creating new school places over the next three years.

“The new primary school in Colchester is a big part of that and I am delighted that the Chelmsford Learning Partnership can now plan for the first intake of pupils in September.”

“We are hoping that the new buildings will be completed before October half term so that Lakelands can move across in the half term break, but obviously this is dependent on a lot of different factors.

“Without doubt, these past three months have been unprecedented, but we are now back on track, working with the construction company and doing everything we can to get Lakelands into its new home.”

Headteacher Koulla Anslow said: “It is an honour and privilege to be the founding headteacher at Lakelands, a school which will encourage, nurture and inspire a generation in everything they do.

“We understand the importance of community and want to promote the values that underpin this - mutual respect, positive relationships and helping others, through every day aspects of our school life including family dining.

“I am thrilled to welcome our first pupils in September as we embark upon an exciting journey together. These will be Lakelands’ ambassadors and pave the way for other children to follow.

“I would also like to, once again, thank Jackie Irwin and her team at Stanway Fiveways, who will accommodate us for the first few weeks of our Lakelands journey.”