Robertson Construction North East host steel signing at new Hetton Primary School

Hetton Primary is a complete new-build at Moorsley Road.

Ground works started in August 2021 and following foundation works its steel frame of girders is now going up. The new school is being built on the same site as the existing school, which will be levelled and replaced with car parking and landscaping.

It is due to open for the next academic year in September 2022 and includes energy saving features as part of the moves toward Sunderland becoming carbon neutral.

Hetton is part of the council's school investments programme - a new £5.3m Willow Wood Primary in Witherwack opened in September, work is underway on the new £13m Sunningdale School, and major updates at both Barnes and Fulwell junior schools are being readied.

The new Hetton Primary has bigger class rooms, early years provision for two to five-year-olds and increases the school's capacity to 245 places.

A steel signing has now taken place with pupils, staff and guests making their mark on one of the building's framework girders.

The City Council's Deputy Leader Councillor Claire Rowntree is a Hetton ward councillor and said: "The new build here at Hetton is very much for all young children as it has both nursery and primary provision. Our new school is a community asset for everyone in Hetton."

Enjoying the signing and site tour with pupils, headteacher Nicola Hill said: "We have been part of the new build process from the very first plans and now get to witness each phase of the new school being built. The children have watched the landscape of the school change quite dramatically for the last few months and can now say they are part of its structure for many years to come.

"Staff and children feel so proud that this amazing structure is going to be theirs. Moving day can not come soon enough and we are so looking forward to what this new school will allow us to do, for some of the most amazing children and families."

Garry Hope, is the Regional Managing Director, of Robertson Construction - North East, the contractors.

He said: "It's our great pleasure to host guests on site to add their name to the steel frame and become a part of the legacy that Sunderland City Council is creating through these investments and improvements for young people and families."

Hetton has been designed and managed by the council's Capital Projects team with support from Infrastructure and Property Services colleagues. Further updates are being prepared on council school investments.

Image Caption: Pupils at Hetton Primary School signing a steel girder to be used in the construction of their new school pictured with l-r Sunderland City Council's Deputy Leader Claire Rowntree, Garry Hope Regional MD Robertson Construction, Sunderland City Councillor Louise Farthing and Headteacher Nicola Hill.