BUILDING work can now begin in earnest on the new �5.5 million site of a school, which was recently rated outstanding by Ofsted, following the official groundbreaking ceremony.

Joint Headteacher Julie Pearson along with pupils Aleece Skinner and Matthew Christopher inspected the site, before picking up a shovel with Councillor Anita Lewis and Frank Conway, project manager for construction company Morgan Sindall who are working on the site.

Mrs Lewis, portfolio holder for children’s services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “I am delighted to be able to support the start of the new build for Roecroft Lower School.

“The new building will double the capacity of the school and ensure the children will learn in classrooms that are fit for purpose and suitable for a 21st century curriculum.”

Roecroft School will be relocating from its current position in Church Road, Stotfold, to a site to the South of the town after building work is completed in 2011.

The new build will feature a variety of eco-friendly features, including a biomass boiler, solar power that heats the hot water supply and south facing solar panels.

Topsoil from the construction site will be retained and used to create a large playing field and landscaped mounds.

John Homer, regional managing director of Morgan Sindall, said: “We are looking forward to working with pupils, parents and teaching staff in order to create a fantastic new learning space.

“We are committed to offering an exceptional level of service for all our customers and we will be drawing on all of our extensive knowledge and expertise to ensure we deliver top-class learning facilities.

We are delighted the pupils were able to be directly involved in the start of work at the ceremony.”

Stotfold ward councillors John Street and Christina Turner, who is also a Roecroft school governor, were also in attendance, along with the school’s Chair of Governors, Neal Alston.

They were joined by Morgan Sindall’s regional commercial director, Andy Fookes, and marketing manager, Helen Bain, as well as representatives from architects Mouchel.