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New eco-school in Dartington, Devon |
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Thursday, 25 February 2010 |
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Pupils at Dartington’s £7 million new eco school move into their classrooms for the first time today (Thursday).
The new school replaces the old primary and has been built on a site close by.
It is an eco-friendly building which is set to be one of the first zero carbon primary schools in the country.
Dartington headteacher Jill Mahon said: "It is a stunning design and is truly a unique building.
"I believe it will be a flagship school which will be extremely environmentally-friendly.
"The eco building fits in very well with our school culture and it will really be an amazing learning tool for the children.
"It has been a great privilege for me as a headteacher to be able to work with staff to design how learning will look from scratch.
"The pupils are all very excited about their new school and we have had nothing but positive comments from visitors who have been bowled over by the facilities when they have looked around."
The new school has 12 classes and an all-weather pitch, a large playing area and landscaped grounds.
The £7 million project included £250,000 to improve pedestrian access so more children and parents are able to use sustainable forms of transport to get to the school.
It replaces the old dilapidated and flood-prone school buildings and brings together the Foundation Stage and the main school on the same site.
There are four separate clusters of buildings which are constructed from pre-fabricated sustainable timber panels.
They are insulated with natural wood fibre and clad in locally grown sweet chestnut. The under floor heating is being provided by air source heat pumps with ventilation via a heat recovery system.
The electricity will come from photovoltaic panels mounted on the roof and the water will be heated by solar power. The school is planning to sell some of the electricity it generates to the National Grid.
Rain water will be collected for re-use within the school and a sustainable drainage system is being incorporated within the extensive landscaping which includes reed beds and ponds to filter grey water.
Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Schools and Skills, Christine Channon, said: "I am particularly delighted at the culmination of this major investment in education in Devon.
"I am also very pleased that we have been able to design a building that should have a zero carbon footprint and could become a regional and national flagship.
"It is extremely important that we do our bit to try to limit global warming and it is a lesson that this generation of Dartington children will learn in a very practical way."
Local county councillor Trevor Pennington said: "This has been long awaited. Teachers, governors, parents and I as Dartington’s county councillor have finally achieved our much deserved goal which has been long and hard but well worth all our team efforts.
"Thanks also go to the county council and officers involved for recognition of the need. The new school is a state of the art building." Devon County Council press release, 24/2/2010 |
