Photo: Bishop Simon joins Mayor Nestorov, Ruth Gooch (Headteacher), and Dr Brian Davis (Chair of Governors).
Bishop Simon Burton-Jones, the Bishop of Tonbridge and Chair of the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education, was delighted to join pupils and staff at St Nicholas Church of England Primary School, Strood, on Wednesday 4 September, for the opening and blessing of their new extension.
The new building marks the final stage in the school’s transition from an infant into a primary school, with the extension allowing the current one-form entry school of 152 pupils, to grow by 30 pupils each year, per year group.
Along with parents and carers, governors and local dignitaries, the excited school community gathered on the playground to see the ribbon cut and to get their first opportunity to explore the new classrooms and communal spaces.
Before the Mayor of Medway, Cllr Marian Nestorov, officially opened the building, Bishop Simon prayed for the whole school community, giving thanks for the new building, and for those who had worked hard to build it.
In blessing the school and the new extension, he prayed that all those learning within it, would be, “filled with joy and curiosity.”
Watch this short film about the blessing of the new extension.
Headteacher, Ruth Gooch, rounded-off the celebrations by ringing the school bell, and officially welcoming the students into the school.
Showing invited guests around, Ruth said that it was wonderful to see how well the students were already settling into their new, spacious surroundings and embracing the school year.