"Fantastic state of the art facilities" at St Mark's C of E School

Following a successful handover of the primary wing of the multi-million-pound brand-new all-through school in December 2021, staff and pupils have praised the new facilities following their first term in occupation

24/03/2022

St Mark's C of E Primary School entrance

After using temporary classroom accommodation while the works were being undertaken, staff and pupils moved into the new 2 Form Entry primary wing which includes:

14 light and airy classrooms
Group teaching space, staff rooms and offices
Primary school hall
External playground and soft landscaping and tree planting
Temporary school reception and staff car park

The primary wing is the first phase of the wider St Mark’s C of E School project, managed and funded by Southampton City Council, to be handed over.

Mr Munnings, PE Teacher at St Mark’s C of E School, commented:

"The new hall is fantastic! The frames and ropes bring a new dimension to dance and gymnastics and the children are enjoying finding additional ways to produce outstanding gymnastics sequences. The addition of a new sound system and lighting will allow us to really sparkle in our dance lessons and performances"

St Mark's C of E Primary School pupils

Steph Bryant, Executive Headteacher of St Mark’s School, said:

“The new school building has been wonderful to move in to and to make our own. The children are lucky to have fantastic state of the art facilities to learn in. We are looking forward to the secondary wing being completed in July and having the full range of facilities we have been visualising for several years.”

Councillor James Baillie, Southampton City Council Cabinet Member for Education, said:

“It is fantastic to see the new primary wing well received by pupils and staff at St Mark’s C of E School. The new facilities provide an enhanced quality of learning and once complete, this new all-through school will create 900 much-needed new school places.

“I look forward to the next phase of this project which will see the secondary school wing open for September 2022.”

Clifford Kinch, Area Director of Morgan Sindall Construction, said:

"Working collaboratively with Southampton City Council and St Mark’s C of E School, we continue to make excellent progress on Southampton’s first-ever all-through school.

“Following the handover of the primary school wing, it's fantastic to see the pupils enjoying their brand new learning environment. We understand the important and central role schools play in our local communities, to provide excellent settings for pupils to learn, develop and thrive. We are proud to work with Southampton City Council to create a further 1,500 new secondary school places in the region by next year, with St Mark's C of E School providing places for 900 local children.

"Giving something back to the communities within which we work is hugely important to us, and we will continue to engage with the local area and drive social value throughout the remainder of the project."

Jeff Williams, Director of Education, Diocese of Winchester, said:

“The team at St Mark’s work tirelessly to create an environment in which children and young people can thrive. Occupying the new primary wing of the all-though school is a significant milestone in our journey to ensure pupils continue to receive an excellent standard of education, rooted in Christian values, throughout their school years.

"It is exciting that the staff, pupils and all members of the school community can now benefit from the brand new school building and its facilities. This project is a continuation of the Church of England’s commitment to help more children, of all faiths and none, have the best possible start in life.”