SUPPORTERS, staff and pupils of Binsted School turned out in force for the official opening by East Hampshire MP Damian Hinds of a new classroom.

It was a particularly poignant moment on October 7, being one year to the day since the launch by the Friends of Binsted School of a £113,000 ‘Big Build Project’ appeal to finance the construction of an additional classroom for year three and year four children.

Binsted is an old Victorian primary school providing education for four to 11 year olds living in Binsted, Kingsley, Oakhanger, and the surrounding villages.

The requirement for the new build reached fever pitch in 2015 when rising numbers and the introduction of a new National Curriculum triggered the re-organisation into reception year, years one and two, years three and four, and years five and six.

However, the school had only three dedicated classrooms which meant leaving two year groups, one class, without a classroom.

The children in years three and four (7-8 year olds) were permanently taught in the school hall, which was not a sustainable solution and left the school without an on-site indoor sports facility, and the children had to break early in order to set up for lunch and assemblies.

The additional classroom was needed to provide a stable teaching environment and to enable the school hall to be brought back into service, accommodating assemblies, performances, PE, gym, and music lessons.

The result was the Big Build Appeal, run by a committee of dedicated parents, staff and members of the community who got together to raise the funds required through sponsorship, council grants and fundraising activities.

They were all invited to the grand opening of the new classroom, alongside Peter Edgar, Hampshire County Council’s executive committee member for education who, with Mr Hinds and other county and district councillors, supported the project, to ensure the school was able to continue to thrive within its rural setting.

Thanking everyone involved, both directly and indirectly, in the fundraising effort, headteacher Sharron Morton said: “It was a mammoth task but the parents, local community and councils pulled together to make this project work in record time.

“We are so pleased with the results and the children are much happier in a classroom which is fit for purpose rather than our hall. We are now able to put a full PE programme back onto the timetable and hold regular assemblies and school gatherings now we have our space back.”