September 9th 2010
Press release from Canterbury Diocese
For immediate use

School staff celebrate 'topping out' of new school building in Sissinghurst

To mark the mid-point of the construction of their new school building, school staff from Sissinghurst Church of England Primary School took part in a special 'topping out' ceremony at the new site in Common Road on Thursday.

The new Headteacher Mrs Cathy Penfold, school staff, local Vicar Revd Allan Norris and representatives from KCC and Jenner Contractors, attended the ceremony, during which time the first tiles were nailed to the roof of the new building.

During the ceremony, Revd Allan Norris said a prayer for the work completed to date and offered a blessing for the work to come and the staff and children who will use the building from next year.

Mrs Penfold, who joined the school as Headteacher last week, commented: "The children and staff are very excited that the building project has reached this stage and we are all looking forward to moving into these fantastic premises next Easter."

The new school replaces the cramped Victorian site which the school has occupied since 1840, to create a new five-class school with a 'Learning Tree Nursery'. All classrooms will be spacious and well equipped and boast outside shaded play areas. A nature trail walk is being incorporated within the site as part of the landscaping design. Various "green" features form part of the building plans including rainwater harvesting, wind catchers and photovoltaic cells on the roof.

The project will cost £4,754,819 and is funded by direct grant from the Department for Children Schools & Families and Kent County Council. KCC purchased the site, which is situated 300 metres from the existing site, some years ago.

The new school, which is being built by Jenner Contractors Ltd, will also improve community provision for the population of Sissinghurst with facilities for ICT, Sport and Adult Education.

Work on the school should be completed by the end of February 2011 with the children moving into the site after Easter 2011.

-Ends-

Further information from:
Emily Shepherd, Director of Communications, Canterbury Diocese 01227 459 401, 07876 210 446, eshepherd@diocant.org

Two Photos attached:
1: Topping Out at Sissinghurst School LR: Mrs Cathy Penfold - Headteacher, Pauline Skinner - Governor, Cllr Gary Cooke - KCC Deputy Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education, Revd Allan Norris - Vicar of Sissinghurst and Alistair Hamilton - Deputy Head
2. Topping Out at Sissinghurst School with Headteacher Mrs Cathy Penfold on the far left.