A primary school in Nottinghamshire forced to close when investigators found deterioration in its building fabric is set to be fully rebuilt. St Peter’s Church of England Primary School on Ashworth Avenue in Ruddington halted operations in December after inspectors carrying out routine window maintenance uncovered serious structural defects. Decaying wood was found within the property’s load-bearing timber columns, and specialists concluded the risk level warranted vacating the premises. At the time, Wayne Bexton, Nottinghamshire County Council’s director of economy, environment and assets, indicated that pupil, staff and visitor safety had to take precedence given assessments showing irreversible structural damage. The closure was initially presented as indefinite, though just over a week later it was announced the site would shut for good. In March, Jen Walker, leader of the Rushcliffe Borough Council Labour group, travelled to the capital alongside Rushcliffe MP James Naish and pupils from the school to hold discussions with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson. This week, confirmation arrived that ministers would automatically designate the school as a priority scheme within their School Rebuilding Programme, removing the need to vie with hundreds of other establishments for financial support. Councillor Jen Walker told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it represented quite a transformation, noting they never anticipated the premises would be condemned, that it came as a complete surprise, and that afterward uncertainty prevailed about what might happen next. She observed that numerous schools had been affected by years of spending cuts, and being elevated on the priority list felt genuinely wonderful. She expressed gratitude to James Naish for facilitating this outcome through negotiations with Bridget Phillipson and the Treasury. When the institution closed, pupils remained at home before being relocated to other nearby schools, comprising James Peacock Infant & Nursery School in Ruddington, Cotgrave Candleby Lane School, Jesse Gray Primary School in West Bridgford, and Millside Spencer Academy in East Leake. Plans were quickly revealed for an urgent temporary learning village featuring modular buildings, with computer-generated images published in February depicting the intended design and construction scheduled for completion near Easter. It ultimately opened around a fortnight ago with the school’s 360 pupils resuming lessons under one roof. However, they can now look forward to moving into a brand new permanent facility, with building work potentially beginning as soon as 2027. Mr Naish commented that this demonstrated the dedication of the entire St Peter’s community, explaining that since the premises closed in December pupils, parents, staff and local councillors had rallied behind his campaign for a swift and comprehensive reconstruction. He expressed satisfaction that the government had responded positively and taken decisive action, thanking all campaign participants and particularly the pupils whose contributions genuinely mattered. He pledged to maintain close collaboration with the Department for Education and Nottinghamshire County Council to progress the scheme as rapidly as possible. The School Rebuilding Programme intends to tackle premises in the poorest condition to establish safe, contemporary settings where young people can acquire the knowledge and abilities required to thrive. Up to 250 schools will be reconstructed under the initiative, with successful applicants announced later this year. The replacement St Peter’s facility is slated for completion and opening by September 2028.
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