A REMEMBRANCE service was held on the first day at a Chester school's new building.

The new Upton Heath Church of England Primary School opened to pupils on November 11, with Reverend Paul Newman, vicar at Holy Ascension church, in attendance to lead the Remembrance Day service.

He was also present to bless the new school hall at Upton Heath.

Joining Reverend Newman for the special service were ‘captain’ Dave and Barbara Capstick of Holy Ascension, who lead regular collective worship at Upton Heath.

The new two storey 1,812 sq ft Upton Heath includes a lift, a double height atrium library and computer area near to the main entrance, a studio space suitable for indoor PE and dance, a dedicated design technology space, interactive touchscreens in the classrooms, sound boards for easier communication in the main hall and classrooms, filtering systems for optimum air quality, a fully accessible toilet with hoist, and adjustable lighting to create ambience at different learning times.

Funding for new furniture and equipment for the new primary school, including ovens for the design technology space, was accessed by James Oakes, facilities manager for The Samara Trust, which is based at Upton Heath but has facilities management responsibility for all schools within the Trust.

In the double storey building, classrooms for Year 4 and Year 5 are located on the second floor, along with one Year 3 classroom.

Year 1, Year 2 and the remainder of Year 3 have their classrooms on the ground floor.

All classrooms have views out onto the forest area at Upton Heath, home to in-house forest school provision Branching Out and Branching Out Training.

EYFS and Upton Village Pre School remain in their regular classrooms in the newest part of the old school building. A link will eventually join the two buildings together.

The new Upton Heath has been built with all of the features of a modern school building as part of the Department for Education’s Priority School Building Programme (PSBP2).

The main contractor of the build was Wates Construction. Aaron Williams from Wates was invited to Upton Heath’s opening day Remembrance service, and was asked to light the first collective worship candle in the new school building by Reverend Paul Newman.

Reverend Newman said: "For the new Upton Heath to open on Remembrance Day was extremely special. We were able to give thanks to the fallen heroes who enabled us to be here today to celebrate our new day, and our new school.”

The new Upton Heath C of E Primary School opened as scheduled, after the old school closed for an extended half term break at the end of October.

Work will continue on landscaping the outside spaces, and with preparations for the removal of the old school building.

The official opening ceremony for the new Upton Heath will take place later when all external works are completed.

David Saville, business unit director for Wates Construction North West, said: “I am very proud of what the team has achieved at Upton Heath Church of England Primary School; they have delivered an amazing space for staff and pupils with exceptional facilities for 21st century learning.

"The Wates team has also worked closely with the school to understand their needs and ensure they have been fully engaged in the creation of their new fantastic new building.”

Visitors, parents/carers and pupils at Upton Heath are accessing the new school building through the usual entrance on Upton Lane, where a walkway has been created that leads them around the old school to the new school building.

Upton Heath is holding open days for prospective parents on the November 18-19 and December 3. For details call Upton Heath on 01244 972970.