Holy Cross School expansion completed

A school expansion project totalling £1.8m has just been completed at Holy Cross Primary School in St Judes.

The City Council identified Holy Cross as an ideal candidate to receive government basic need funding in order for it to grow and provide needed much needed additional places to cope with an increase in demand. Holy Cross will now have an annual intake of 45 and, over time, will grow to accommodate 330 pupils.

The project was funded by a Capital government grant of £805,547 and the remainder came from the City Council.

Paul Cotter, Executive Headteacher of Holy Cross, said: “Through this expansion we have gained a wonderful multi-use games area on Beaumont Park as well as a fantastic space inside the church. We are so proud of what has been achieved.”

The works have created three new classes on an upstairs floor, whilst downstairs is a large hall space big enough to be used by the whole school for assemblies and, looking at the whole school day, a fantastic new dining room. The works have also included a brand new kitchen built in the old presbytery next to part of the old Holy Cross Church.

The school is a shareholder in the CATERed co-operative, which provides its meals and they work together to ensure that healthy lifestyle choices and social skills play a key part in the school day.

Brad Pearce MD of CATERed said: “This is a really exciting development here at Holy Cross. Before the expansion our staff were working in a very small kitchen with a multi-purpose dining space.  Since October last year we’ve been able to use the new kitchen but until now have been having to use trolleys to take food to pupils in the classrooms.

“Having this fantastic space provided as part of the expansion means that lunchtimes can be even more of a relaxed and social experience.  The pupils have designed today’s menu with Karen Barber our catering manager and they are also having a competition to name their new restaurant and CATERed will then produce the signage.”

The building works have made sure that many of the features of the old church have been carefully retained and embraced – the stained glass windows, memorial plaques, the baptismal font and the side chapel.

Mr Cotter said: “It was so important to us that we are reminded that this is a church building and a place where generations of Plymouth parishioners have been baptised, married and farewelled, celebrating key moments of their faith journey. We are privileged to be able to breathe life again into this wonderful, historic building.”

Councillor Sue McDonald, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People said: “We are determined as a Council to ensure that the quality of schools throughout the city is such that no matter where a child lives, they will have access to an excellent school just around the corner. Our aim is to help develop a highly skilled and capable workforce of productive young adults who contribute to the region’s economic growth and prosperity and who enjoy and achieve in life.”

Chair of Governors, Marcia Wolstencroft said: “We still have work to do as the altar space needs refurbishment and we are realistic that this is an old building, but as a school, we now have a place to bring the whole community together.”
Possibly the best description of the new space came from 10-year-old Isaac Quant, who said: “I think we are so lucky to have such a space. The building is brilliant because it is so special and like a new home for us.”